Our Tree of Light campaign raises more than £2,000
We’ve raised £2,008.72 from our recent annual Tree of Light campaign – thanks to your help (January 2025).
We held switch-ons for light-covered trees – each one commemorating a lost loved one or a special cause – at the end of last year and sponsorship ended on December 31.
Help people live their best lives
Annie, our Manager explains: “We’re here to help people live their best lives, rather than to just exist. Every sponsored light helps support our multi-generational initiatives befriending people in communities city-wide, through our Good Neighbours Network.
“Our mission is to eradicate loneliness and isolation, which are issues impacting on people of all ages and potentially represent a significant health risk to them. Fundraisers like this are so vital to us and to those we help, but we also need donations daily if we want to be able to continue with the work we do through 2025, so if you can make one today, please donate now, thank you.
Volunteers
“Along with our band of volunteers, who we call Communiteers, that give their time and support freely, we’re working to eliminate loneliness, which is known as society’s ‘silent epidemic’.
“New medical research out at the start of this year suggests social interaction may keep us healthy because it boosts our immune system and reduces our risk of diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and type two diabetes.
Loneliness is a potential killer
“Researchers came to this conclusion after studying proteins from blood samples taken from 42,000+ adults recruited to the UK Biobank. Find out more here. These findings are just part of growing scientific evidence that loneliness is a potential killer impacting significantly on our nation’s health.
“Our Tree of Light is more than a fundraiser, it also provides a valuable public service for those who wish to remember, and include in their festive giving, those no longer with us, including pets, and to mark and honour any special occasions or anniversaries.
Social opportunities
“Plus, we host two switch-on events each year, with some of our trees donated and put up by Castle Gardens in Dorset, part of The Gardens Group, and these are great social opportunities, open to everyone, and are free of charge to attend.
“We’re thrilled to have had such a good response to our recent campaign. The names of those remembered will be recorded in our remembrance book out soon and are now published on our website.
2025 Tree of Light
“We’re hoping, at the end of this year, when we host our 17th annual Tree of Light campaign, that lots of people sponsor a light once again, so we can continue to help those who would like to see a friendly face on a regular basis for a chat or to assist them with simple tasks like transport to a social event.
“This year we aim to go live with sponsorship in October to help people have more time to get involved and to promote our two free switch-on events further ahead, so we can welcome even more people in 2025.”
How you can help us help others
We’re currently supporting more than 750 individuals/families through tasks including, befriending, transport for appointments and assistance with shopping and we always need more donations and volunteers to help with our work.
Annie adds: “The current economic climate means we need support from public donations more than ever before. Every penny we receive goes towards making someone’s life better.
“If you ever have a spare hour, or so, each week, then we’d love to hear from you, as we always need more volunteers and befrienders.
“The experience could also benefit you, as many of our Communiteers say how much volunteering has enhanced their lives, as well as those they befriend and assist. We can be flexible and work around your other commitments too. Please get in touch via 023 8250 0050 or volunteer@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.”