Remember pets with our Tree of Light
If you’d like to remember a pet or pets who have passed away you can now do so for the first time this year through our Tree of Light fundraising and awareness campaign (November 2024).
We’re offering you the chance to sponsor festive lights commemorating special causes and loved ones including pets this Christmas.
Significant contribution
Our Manager, Annie, explains: “By sponsoring the lights on our trees, people can remember a lost loved-one, or they can mark something special. Each light also helps support our charity, which befriends people in communities city-wide. Our mission is to eradicate loneliness and isolation, which are becoming more and more of a problem across all generations.
“Every year so far, we’ve just highlighted remembering people and people-related causes, but this year we’d like to extend this to animals and pets, as we appreciate how important they are in people’s lives and the significant contribution they make to someone’s wellbeing. We’re hoping lots of people sponsor lights on our trees to help fundraise for us and the work we do. We can also provide a remembrance star for them to hang on their own Christmas tree at home.”
Lindsey & Zippy
Communicare volunteer befriender, Lindsey Fraser, who is also an Olympian, a British Team Leader and a Diving Coach is sponsoring a light this year for her cat Zippy, who passed away in the autumn.
She says: “Communicare’s Tree of Light is a fantastic way to remember those we love who are no longer with us. I’ve sponsored a light in the past for family members. I particularly like that, as well as there being a light shining away for them on one of the trees, I also have one of the charity’s stars to hang on my tree at home to remind me too.
“Communicare is a very special organisation, helping those who are struggling. I have experienced ill health over the last couple of years and know what that’s like. Sponsoring a light is not only beneficial to the work the charity does but also helps us to remember our loved ones.
“I have recently lost my much-cherished cat, Zippy and will be remembering him with a light this year too.”
How to sponsor a light
Anyone who would like to sponsor a light is asked to make a minimum donation of £8. The names of those being remembered will be recorded in a remembrance book and published on our website. People can also send photographs, short poems/verses or a tribute for inclusion in the book.
For sponsorship forms and more information, please click here.
Anyone who wishes to also receive a remembrance star for their own Christmas tree at home, should send a stamped addressed envelope to our office: 6 Northlands Road, Southampton, SO15 2LF along with their donation for their light. Please contact us on 023 8250 0050 or email accounts@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk if you would like further information about sponsoring a light.
Switch on events
Our two free Tree of Light switch-ons are on Saturday, November 30 at 5.30pm in the Woolston Millennium Garden or at St Mark’s Church on Archers Road on Sunday, December 1 at 5.30pm. Everyone is welcome to these joyous events regardless of whether they donate.
Annie adds: “On the Saturday at Woolston Millennium Garden we’ve carols around the tree led by The Rising Stars. Bring a lantern if you’d like to! Then on the Sunday, come along to St Mark’s Church, Archers Road from 5.30pm. We’ll have refreshments and carols from 4.30pm. Both events are free. No booking required.
“We’re very grateful to Woolston Millennium Garden, St Mark’s Church and Spectrum Signs, for their on-going support. This event is so important in our fundraising and social calendar.”