A Happy Virtual Xmas From Leading Link

Dec 2, 2020

A Bedlington based charity are making sure that COVID doesn’t spoil the Christmas magic for 7000 schoolchildren and pensioners in Northumberland. 

Leading Link have organised the biggest local digital initiative this Christmas in Northumberland on Friday 11 December 2020 called Remotely Christmas.

The idea began when Leading Link were hearing from schools how much children were struggling under the current climate thinking that Christmas was cancelled, Santa couldn’t come into their houses or the elves were not allowed to work.  At the same time, relatives were unable to see their elderly families and isolation was on the increase and becoming a growing concern.

Initially it was simply going to be digitally streamed into schools and care homes in the South East of Northumberland to reach out and connect, but word soon got round about this ‘feel good’ project and people began to contact Leading Link.

Culture Northumberland then supported the project through their Northumberland Winter Festival and the project has grown now to more than 40 schools and care homes equating to over 7000 viewers signed up already. 

The digital streaming runs from 11am right through to 8.30pm through YouTube.  Anyone can tune in at any time, but the focus of content is split into three parts: children and young people, adults at home and then families within their homes.  Draeger Safety UK have also supported greatly by paying for 6,000 Christmas activity workbooks designed by Leading Link which will be delivered to schools in advance of the screening.

Content throughout the day will include interactive workshops with illustrator Liz Million, Panto, storytelling from John Kirk, storytelling from the Libraries and Charlie Younger from Seven Stories and lots of singing including Christmas carols from Early Years, dancing and creative fun. 

Santa has set up home at Northumberland Zoo in Eshott for the day and he will be sending his elves all over Northumberland from Kielder to Berwick and Amble to Cramlington delivering good cheer to the children directly into the schools.

The day will showcase local Northumbrian talented professionals including musicians John Hopkinson, Iain Petrie, the Cramlington Caribbean Crew and The Sawdust Jacks and singers including the Kings Choir and Wor Vera.  There will be streamed visits to Hexham Abbey, Berwick’s Radio Rooms and Alnwick Garden’s Light Show as well as Australia and Christmas Abroad. 

As there have been no official Christmas Tree Light Switch On programmes this year, the team from Blyth based Tyne Audio have been gathering video footage from more than twenty five parish and town Christmas trees to connect the four corners of Northumberland with ‘Northumberland Lights Up’.

The project is now pulling together the last minute editing but are still on the hunt for people who want to share their memories of Christmas on either audio or video and also photographs from amateur photographers showing the delights of Northumberland at this time of year.  If you would like to be involved, please phone Leading Link on 01670 820088 or email info@leadinglink.co.uk

Remotely Christmas will be streamed via a YouTube link which will appear on www.leadinglink.co.uk or on their Facebook page ‘Leading Link’ in the next week together with the detailed itinerary of the day.   

Lyn Horton CEO of Leading link said: 

‘The fact that we have been met with an abundance of enthusiasm by everyone from young to old has proved that there is a real need for a simple bit of positivity and fun in these strange times.  We never dreamed that we would have so many people wanting to support this project and we have loved working with our partners right across Northumberland to make this happen. Christmas is definitely not cancelled’.

The enthusiasm for the project has prompted Leading Link to look at doing a similar project in January and anyone with ideas can contact Leading Link to discuss. 

The Link to YouTube is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbDJHeo4CXw

 Ends

Media and interviews – keith@highlightspr.co.uk 07814 397951 

Photo: Santa and his elf helpers at Northumberland Zoo with Lyn Horton (tinsel) and Maxine Bradley (red striped hat) from the Zoo

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