St Mary’s at Finchley is hosting an online Community Christmas Concert on Saturday 4 December.
The Worshipful Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Alison Cornelius, thanks everyone who has donated to the Barnet NHS Thank You initiative as The Hill Group’s Christmas lights are switched on.
Organised by parish member, Emmanuel Hammond, the concert brings together performers from different faiths and backgrounds to promote unity in the community. It is the first of three planned events to raise funds for the Royal Free charity to say thank you to Barnet’s NHS staff for their outstanding support to the community during the pandemic.
Mr Hammond, who originally started the Barnet NHS Thank You fundraiser seven months ago, said: “After all the trauma of the past 18 months, hosting a programme of community events feels an appropriate way to give thanks to Barnet’s NHS for everything they have done and continue to do for us. We at St Mary’s are extremely grateful for the support we have received to make this possible, including the kind donation of lights for our Christmas tree from The Hill Group, ongoing support for Barnet NHS Thank You from Barnet Council as well as fantastic support from our local community.”
Prior to Saturday’s concert at 6pm, there will be a short ceremony, with invited guests including the Worshipful Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Alison Cornelius, to launch the event and switch on the Christmas tree lights.
Cllr Cornelius said: “It is an inspiration to see such initiatives spring up in our local community, and it is a real privilege for me to help launch the Barnet NHS Thank You Community Christmas Concert. I hope it will give everyone an opportunity to pause, enjoy the music and show gratitude for the wonderful diverse borough we live in and for Barnet’s NHS staff who continue to tirelessly dedicate their energy to protecting our health and wellbeing.”
The concert is being staged with support from St Mary’s at Finchley parish members and the local community. Hill have gifted over £3500 to cover the church’s Christmas tree lights and their installation. The lights will permanently remain on the 25m conifer tree outside the church entrance, for repeated use each year.
David Eardley, managing director for Hill, said: “We are delighted to contribute to this wonderful event and cause, celebrating the work and dedication of local NHS staff who have helped Barnet’s community through such a difficult time. We hope local people and passers-by will gain comfort from the lights of the tree, and that many will embrace the good will and festive spirit of the season through the community concert and by donating what they can to such a worthy cause.
The Community Christmas Concert is available for all to watch online from 6pm. Visit the St Mary at Finchley website to join the live stream and to donate to the Barnet NHS Thank You fundraiser: https://stmaryatfinchley.org.uk/community-charity-concerts/
As part of Barnet’s Winter Faiths Festival, events are taking place throughout the borough with the aim of bringing together people of all faiths and none. To find out what’s happening near you this winter, visit www.engage.barnet.gov.uk/discoverbarnetpresents
About The Hill Group
Hill is an award-winning housebuilder and one of the leading developers in London and the south east of England, delivering both private for sale and affordable homes.
Now in its 21st year, this family-owned and operated company has grown to establish itself as the UK's second-largest privately-owned housebuilder, with an impressive and diverse portfolio of schemes ranging from landmark mixed-use regeneration schemes and inner-city apartments to homes in rural communities.
With staff numbers over 700, the company operates from six strategically located offices across the South-east, with its head office based in Waltham Abbey.
Hill builds around 2,400 homes a year, with 9,900 homes currently under construction and a pipeline of more than 14,000 homes. Around half of the development portfolio is in joint venture to deliver a range of mixed tenure developments, reflecting Hill's commitment to partnerships with government, local authorities, housing associations and private clients.
Hill has won over 450 industry awards in the past 20 years, including the prestigious housebuilder of the Year, Best Medium Housebuilder and Best Development at the WhatHouse? Awards 2020. More recently Hill has been awarded Best Home, Best Sustainable Development and Best Medium Housebuilder at the WhatHouse? Awards 2021, and Best Medium Housebuilder at the Housebuilder Awards in both 2020 and 2021. In conjunction with Building with Nature, Hill was also awarded a Housing Design Award for its highly sustainable Knights Park development in Eddington, Cambridge. In addition, Hill has been awarded 5-star status in the Home Builders Federation's annual Customer Satisfaction Survey for the past four years.
The Hill Group is donating 200 fully equipped modular homes over the next five years to single homeless people as part of a £15m pledge through its Foundation 200 programme, launched last year to mark Hill's 20th anniversary.
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