7 Light Up A Life campaigns
Melanie May | 10 November 2021 | News
Last year many of the traditional Light Up a Life services took place virtually. This year, there’s a mix of in-person and and virtual events going on around the country, with people able donate when they leave a message of remembrance or dedication, whether it’s on one of City Hospice’s virtual stars, St Gile’s Hospice’s virtual Christmas tree, or in a Book of Remembrance. Here are seven.
City Hospice, Cardiff
Local Welsh charity City Hospice has launched its annual Light Up A Life campaign, which runs until 31 December, and sees the return of its digital feature, a ‘Virtual Star in the Sky’.
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The fundraising idea was introduced last year as a safe way for supporters to take part in Light Up A Life during the pandemic. The ‘Virtual Star in the Sky’ platform allows people to make a donation and leave a message of remembrance on a virtual star in the Cardiff skyline in memory of their loved ones.
City Hospice will also be holding a remembrance service again this year, as well as an online event and other fundraising efforts to support the campaign in the lead up to Christmas.
Donations made to the Light Up A Life campaign during the three-month period will go twice as far, thanks to match funding by The Hodge Foundation, which has previously supported it.
St Giles Hospice, Lichfield
Lichfield people will come together once again this December to remember their loved ones at St Giles Hospice’s Light up a Life services.
The services, which traditionally take place across the St Giles Hospice region each year before Christmas, are returning as normal for 2021 after being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Dedications can be made online and feature on the hospice’s virtual Light up a Life Christmas tree. Dedications made before 11 November are also included in the Book of Memories, which will be available to view at all of the hospice’s services and on its website from 1 December as well as at St Giles Hospice and some service locations.
Everyone who dedicates a light receives a special Light up a Life keepsake card to display at Christmas time featuring the name of their loved one, their personal message and a bookmark along with a poem of remembrance.
Wirrel Hospice St John’s
Sunday 5 December sees Wirral Hospice St John’s switch on 10,000 lights in and around its gardens, which will shine each evening in the run up to and throughout Christmas time to commemorate and celebrate the lives of loved ones.
This year is the 25th anniversary of the hospice’s Light up a Life. Due to Covid instead of its outdoor Light up a Life switch-on service, people can book slots to visit the lights in small family groups.
As in 2020, a pre-recorded service will be available for people to view at home, via the hospice’s website, which will capture the spirit of the lights switch-on, interspersed with reflective songs from the hospice choir, families walking and pausing for thought under the lights, scenes from hospice life as well as readings from the hospice team, including volunteers.
People sponsoring a light will have the name of the person they are remembering entered into books of honour, which will be available to view online while a personal copy can also be pre-ordered for viewing at home.
A Light up a Life card with a personalised greeting will be sent out to all who request one and there is also the opportunity to buy a rose gold metallic star tree decoration keepsake inscribed with the words, ‘Light up a Life’.
St Margaret’s Hospice, Somerset
Traditionally Light up a Life is the time when St Margaret’s Hospice invites the local community to gather in churches across the county for a simple service of remembrance. However, after more people were able to access the service last year when it was streamed due to the pandemic, the hospice is keeping the virtual format for 2021.
As well as the service in December the hospice is inviting families across Somerset to share the names of their loved ones in remembrance and celebration. The St Margaret’s website is home to a virtual night sky where members of the community can dedicate a star in memory of a loved one and make a donation to the hospice.
There will also be a special Light Up a Life service broadcast from the Bishop’s Chapel at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells on Sunday, 12 December at 4pm, available to watch via the hospice’s website.
Cransley Hospice, Kettering
After last year’s virtual service received positive feedback. Cransley Hospice is once again hosting a virtual Tree of Lights service.
The hospice is inviting people to leave a dedication for a loved one and to join in the service, on Sunday 5 December with readings, carols and music from the comfort of their own homes. The service will be broadcast on the hospice’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
Everyone leaving a dedication and donation before 25 November will receive a remembrance pack which will include a candle and service booklet.
The lights on the tree in the John Notley garden at the St Mary’s Hospital site in Kettering will be lit from the 5 December and will shine throughout the festive season as a dedication to friends and family members, until Twelfth Night on the 5 January. It can also be visited during this time.
Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice
Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice’s Lights of Love service takes place on 5 December, and remains online afterwards so people can join in at a time that suits them via the hospice’s YouTube channel.
People are also invited to dedicate a light in their loved one’s memory on the hospice’s virtual Christmas tree, meaning people can add a photo and share the dedication with friends and family. They’re also invited to donate in their loved one’s honour.
St Barnabas Hospice, Lincolnshire
St Barnabas Hospice in Lincolnshire is inviting people to join it for a Light Up a Life service live from its website on 23 November this year. It will feature readings, music, and time for quiet reflection. The hospice will also light candles in remembrance of loved ones and invite people to do the same at home.
People can dedicate a light in memory of a loved one, which will shine on the hospice’s Tree of Life outside Lincoln Hospice, where it can be visited. To say thank you for doing so, the hospice will send a card with the names of their loved one(s) and a special decoration for their Christmas tree at home. The dedications will also appear on its website.
In addition, for those wanting to do something in person, it is holding its Torchlight Procession on the same date, with people walking to Lincoln Cathedral carrying flaming torches in memory of loved ones.
For tips on promoting Light Up a Life campaigns, click here.
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About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.