The Big Christmas Care Singalong gets everyone singing with one voice this Christmas

People living and working in care will feature in ‘The Big Christmas Care Singalong’ – an online interactive concert to celebrate the social care sector and bring people together this Christmas

Care providers across the country and abroad take part in the international video with festive songs and celebrations

Thousands are expected to watch the celebration in care settings across the country and abroad.

‘The Big Christmas Care Singalong’, an hour-long online concert celebrates all those who live and work in social care .The video will be broadcast in care homes, hospitals, hospices, schools and people’s own homes from 8th December 2024 at www.thebigchristmascaresingalong.com.

It will also be broadcast on York Mix Radio at 12pm on Christmas Day.

The singalong first came about in December 2020 during lockdown when families were unable to visit relatives in care homes so it was put together with videos from people all over the world to give a feeling of togetherness in an effort to tackle loneliness among vulnerable people

The ‘play as live’ event, which is returning for its fifth outing this year, has been spearheaded by Big Ian Donaghy, a well-known dementia campaigner and advocate for the social care sector and author of Dear Dementia, A Pocketful of Kindness, Never Stop Drawing and The Missing Peace.

Ian asked people working in care to send their videos of memories of Christmas and what working in care means to them to create the cuddly patchwork quilt that is the singalong.

Previous years have been watched by thousands of people who live and work in the social care sector, with viewers coming from the UK and further afield in Australia, New Zealand and even Venezuela. The online concert, which was described as “funny, heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measure”, was created in response to the isolation experienced by many vulnerable people during the festive period.

This year’s online Singalong is set to be bigger and better, with Big Ian (bigian.co.uk) and his team creating a festive feast to remember.

Many of the performances were recorded at St.James Church in Murton near York where he assembled a dream team of Jessa Liversidge, Emily Lawler, Simon Snaize and Steve Cassidy and Samantha Holden who performed an array of festive favourites.

The free-to-watch concert will feature care home residents and team members performing their favourite Christmas songs -some good…some shocking but all included and wishing festive cheer to all wherever you are.

“People with hearing aids may wish to turn them down for some sections of the show!” said Big Ian as he warns not every performance is of the same quality.

“This is fully inclusive. Dementia nor learning disabilities should stop us. If we don’t include people we exclude them and last time I looked music is for EVERYONE!”

The singalong will be available to watch on-demand at www.thebigchristmascaresingalong.com now and available all over the Christmas period.

The past 4 year’s shows are also available to view.

Speaking of the Big Christmas Care Singalong, Big Ian Donaghy said:

“This is an opportunity for people across the entire care  sector to come together and share their personal memories and love of Christmas. 

“Expect the unexpected. You will laugh, and you may cry, as people share their stories.”

This year’s Big Christmas Care Singalong is sponsored by The Care Show, Tanglewood Care Homes, Visiting Angels, Caron Group and Care Home Life but is embraced by everyone in the care sector as a celebration of our community.

Let’s get everyone in care singing with ONED voice this Christmas and if you can’t go to join in a Christmas Concert let us bring the Christmas concert to you.