Over 10,000 votes were cast at last year’s 2016 Lichfield Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival a phenomenally successful year and plans are already taking place with the intention of doing something equally exciting for next year’s festival, so keep your eyes peeled?

The winners, unfortunately not us, were as follows:

Whittington Primary School

The Magic of Milly Charity

Pool House Veterinary Group

Runners up, unfortunately not us, were as follows:

St Chad’s C of E VC School

St Giles Hospice

BHB Architects

Many congratulations to all of you, bringing awareness to a good cause and in supporting your company, church, or school, well one.

However, we are not dishearten or cannot grumble, as we too had a very thoughtful ‘thank you’ tag left on our tree when we went to retrieve all of our decorations just after Christmas!  Whoever you are? a very BIG thank you from all of us at Sweet Causes Ltd for your very appreciative message, we’re so glad you liked it! If you get in touch, we may have a little sweetie surprise for you?

A very Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year to all our loyal and compassionate customers, suppliers, partners, be it near or far, without your support we would not be able to contribute to the charities we care about in the way we do. 

Thank you for providing that encouragement and emotional strength that helped when it was needed, for you caring in the way that you do, being sympathetic with your concerns of a sensitive nature..

We thank you all.

‘Every time a bell rings an Angel gets his wings’ 

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

A special preview viewing had been arranged for invited guests and members on Sunday evening 18^th December 2016.  A stunning outdoor festive laser light show, lit up projecting the spirit of Christmas, all over Lichfield Cathedral with some amazing special effects and sounds.

Illuminated candy canes, Christmas trees, angels, snowflakes, trumpets, all sprayed the entire magnificent south transept of this stunning building showing off its striking fine architecture of years gone by.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the laser event guests were invited to take a stroll into the cathedral to view the festival Christmas trees that had been donated by schools, charities and local businesses which paved the two sides of the Cathedral, starting to the left hand side of the building as you enter the doors, then heading towards the nativity.  All trees have now been decorated, with the theme being ‘Peace’ this year, are open to the public to view where tokens can be purchased for £1. Once you have decided which tree or trees you like the best, just pop your token into the box that sits alongside that tree, you can even vote for more than one tree. It will be very difficult to decide as some of the designs are just lovely with amazing detail, some humorous or some just sending a very simple message across.

As you continue round to the right hand side of the building you are able to view all the other remaining festival Christmas trees until you have to stop and look up to the most amazing sight of 10,000 white paper angels, yes! TEN THOUSAND ANGELS! All have been made by local school children with some having their own special messages of peace written inside them. All hanging from this splendid ceiling, just gently swaying in the air, absolutely beautiful.

As you continue to walk round to the back of the alter a larger Christmas tree stands where you can purchase a label, write a special prayer or message to someone that are in your thoughts this Christmas, then carefully tie it to one of the branches.

All proceeds will go to the Friends of Lichfield Cathedral, whom support the Cathedral’s ongoing conservation and restoration work, and mission. http://www.lichfield-cathedral.org/

                                             

Writing a prayer for her new baby brother arriving next year.                                       Special thanks goes to Peter Walker and David Harper

This is how beautiful Lichfield was that frosty night as we headed back home walking alongside the calm river bank, very Christmassy.

 

Even on a very chilly December evening you would have thought that everyone would be tucked up in front of the TV, but no, not on this particular occasion. What an evening it was at this year’s candle lit Carol Service at St Giles-without-Cripplegate in London on Thursday 15th December, the church was filled with pure pleasurable joy and fun, from the moment you walked into this church you received a warmhearted welcome and by the look of these lovely happy faces, it just speaks for itself, everyone had a great time.

The evening was to mark the beginning of Mencaps 70th birthday and to thank those guests or parties involved who have help support Mencap during 2016.

https://www.mencap.org.uk/

Janine Tragelles (Above – LHS – red coat) – Chief Executive, Royal Mencap Society with stars of the show of ‘The Music Man Project’ and their enthusiastic, bubbly personalities

Founder of ‘The Music Man Project’ – (Above – LHS – white jacket) David Stanley teaches full-time music education services to people with disabilities.

Music was provided by  ‘The Music Man Project’ http://themusicmanproject.com/ and  ‘The English Baroque Choir’  http://www.ebc.org.uk/

Favourite carols of the evening were ‘Jingle Bells’, where everyone had to add precisely six ‘Ha’s’ in the chorus line ‘Laughing all the way!’ not 5 or 7 but 6! and ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’, this is where  David Stanley decides when we all get to the chorus line ’10 Lords -a -Leaping’, he briskly sprints down the church isle like some gazelle in ballet shoes to sprint back again in time to play the piano for the next chorus line ‘9 ladies dancing’, then all female guests have to stand up and start dancing in the church pews!  David taught us sign language and by ‘breaking the ice’, he even made us hold hands with the person sitting next to us, never met them before! Hilarious!, best ever carol service we have ever been to.  

‘THE MUSIC MAN PROJECT’ – LONDON PALLADIUM SUNDAY 15th OCTOBER 2017

After their highly successful first time at the London Palladium and by popular demand ‘The Music Man Project’ have been asked to return and perform again for the second time in 2017 on Sunday 15^th October 2017 at 6.30pm.  After filling over 1300 seats last year they are hoping to fill the 2000 mark in 2017.  Tickets are just £5 subject to booking fee for online, telephone and credit card bookings from http://rutlive.co.uk/ Tel: 0844 412 4655.  There will be surprise celebrity guests and also featuring a World Record attempt: Concerto of 1000 triangles!   We will certainly be there.

 

The Rector Katharine Rumens hosted and gave blessing at the service with a brief back ground history to the church.  

St Giles is a Church of England grand 1 listed building, as far as history knows there has been a church standing on the same spot for over a thousand years. Over the many years in 1545, 1897 and during the Blitz of the Second World War in 1940, the church has been severely damaged by fire on three occasions, however it did escape and survived the Great Fire of London in 1666.  This church is dedicated to St Giles who was the patron saint of beggars, blacksmiths and people with disabilities.  It is one of the few medieval churches left in the City of London. http://www.stgilescripplegate.com/

Lloyd Page – home made yellow hat with tinsel, read a very humorous poem by Ian McMillan called ‘ I keep my snowman in the freezer’

Special readings from comedian and actor Hugh Dennis, authoress Emma Claire Sweeney and Lloyd Page, Mencaps Learning Disability Champion, a volunteer for 22 years.

Two recommended books were on offer for sale by Caroline White and Emma Claire Sweeney both have written books of their own personal experiences of loved ones in their own lives who have learning disabilities, the hurdles they have had to face and the people in their lives they have to thank.

Some proceeds from all the sales of these books are donated to Mencap.

Supporting this year’s 2016 Christmas Tree Festival at the fabulous Lichfield Cathedral. This local event invites 55 local businesses, charities and schools to decorate a real 5ft Norwegian Christmas tree anyway that you like! Well within appropriate reason.

Each tree already potted with its own set of lights ready for this year’s theme of ‘Peace’ we aimed to give it our first time shot with some of our sweets that gave a ‘good enough to eat’ approach.

Small wooden baubles representing each one of our three main charities Mencap, Teenage Cancer Trust and Children’s Air Ambulance tied with a red ribbon, garlands of sweet smelling popcorn scalloped the edges all tied with cone bundles of White Chocolate Mice and multi coloured Jelly Dew Drops. The final pièce de résistance were two turtle doves perched with the olive branch crowning the top of the tree. 

Specified instructions were given out for the sweets and popcorn  reserved for ‘Church Mice Consumption Only‘

It certainly was fun to do with such a lovely pleasant atmosphere that drifted through the cathedral, meeting and talking to interesting people who had taken time out of their busy lives to support this friendly event, many had come from far afield to visit Lichfield Cathedral

Members of the public will be able to purchase tokens to vote for their favourite tree, with all proceeds going to the Friends of Lichfield Cathedral.

The trees can be seen from Saturday 3rd December to Wednesday 4th January 2016. http://www.lichfield-cathedral.org/what-s-on/christmas-tree-festival

Everyone gathered for this year’s 2016 Black Tie Winter Ball supporting Birmingham Children’s Hospital at the beautiful Town Hall Birmingham. The night was hosted by quick witted England Rugby’s Martin Bayfield. An auctions and raffles were in place to encourage the fund raising, all money raised on the night was to support the Star Appeal.

The Birmingham Children’s Hospital Appeal are hoping to raise a staggering £3.65 million to create the UK’s first centre for children with rare diseases. Children with rare or undiagnosed medical conditions can face huge challenges and obstacles as they grow up.

Any child who has had to endure endless hospital visits, face lack of information, and a sense of isolation can be all too much and overwhelming for them. The new building will provide co-ordinated care, treatment and support to help to brighten the lives of these inspiring stars.

Check out their photos  https://www.facebook.com/pg/BirminghamChildrensHospital/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154634814227464

All turned up at this local event at the Aldridge Conservative Club in July for a lovely afternoon of scrumptious Summer strawberry teas to support this year’s 2016 Breast Cancer Care. A great turn out by all, where sandwiches, homemade cakes and raffles tickets helped raise a staggering £2,531.00.

Many local companies, restaurants and shops had donated and gave generously. One way of getting some interest and enticing customers to buy a raffle ticket was Guess how many sweets were in the jar? as well as trying to guess the weight of a sweetie jar? Prizes and gifts included hoovers, carpet cleaners, flowers, meal vouchers and even a lovely heart inspired painting by Doug Hyde.

To support and help those who are facing breast cancer check out some delicious recipes on their website to get some friends together and motivate yourself for next year’s Strawberry Tea Event.

https://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/strawberry-tea

Page 45 gives a mention to ‘Sweet Causes Ltd’ in their 2016 Annual Report & Accounts. Mencap gives ‘A Big Thank You’ to all their fantastic supporters around the UK for their generous and thoughtful donations including BBC Children in Need, Big Lottery Fund, Dame Barbara Windsor, Land Securities Group Plc, The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, Sir Alan & Lady Gilly Yarrow, Allen & Overy to name but a few.

However this is not just to thank us as a company it is also in recognition and thanks to each and every one of you out there who has bought a packet of our sweets and on more than one occasion, putting that £1 coin in the box, that contribution makes all the difference and when you hear of all the touching stories for example little Daire’s Story and Segal House (page 39) makes it all worthwhile. Click Here To View Report

 

A big thank you from all of us at Sweet Causes Ltd to all our compassionate and considerate customers out there, your support is greatly appreciated.

A breakfast meeting on Tuesday 11^th October 2016 was arranged to discuss how employers can help in getting people with learning disabilities back into the work force. Hosted by Sir Alan Yarrow and Chief Executive Jan Tregelles at the beautiful Mansion House in London. Amazed that only 6% of people with a learning disability are in paid employment compared to 49% of the wider disability community and 79% of the general population. Trying to break down barriers and changing the attitudes of employers and businesses, it highlighted so many positive examples of how it would have a huge impact on a person life and what benefits it can bring to a company.

https://www.mencap.org.uk/get-involved/learning-disability-work-experience-week

The lovely Chloe Jones a Lecturer in Sport Performance at the Heart of Worcestershire College in Redditch and the project manager has kindly sent us details on her trip to Ghana and what she and Paul Addis achieved while working with the original volunteers and how Sweet Causes Ltd helped to sponsor their trip.  How we all can take things so much for granted, just plain basic drinking water and living accommodation, who would even of thought that there were Aston Villa fans that far afield, it’s a good job too, as they really need as many supporters as possible at the moment! This is what Chloe wrote and you can see the video clips together with Paul, below:

 

[vc_video title=”Ghana 2013″ link=”https://youtu.be/WkJDHlFv_kg”]

 

Well done guys, inspiring to see what you have accomplished, so glad we could help in some small way, keep up the good work.

 

  

 

‘Working in conjunction with Original Volunteers and Charity Sweets, we created a volunteering project for students at Heart of Worcestershire College. We believe that the more opportunities that young people are given in life to grow and develop, the more successful they will be in all walks of life. The project was established in 2012 and went live in 2013. Eight members of staff were recruited to support the delivery of the project. The main focuses were to encourage students to step out of their comfort zone, learn, develop, help and educate others by using sport and physical education as the main tool. I carefully identified and recruited fifteen students every year to be involved in the project from a range of different courses across college and of different ages. Charity Sweets sponsored the project. The money from the charity paid for water filters for communities along with other amenities that enhance the chances of survival. The students also ran community sporting events, open mic nights and other charitable events to raise funds for water filters, clothes, sports equipment and other fundamental items.

We then spent four weeks every year in Mpraeso, Ghana working within communities helping to raise attainment levels within schools by delivering lessons, mentoring teachers and coaches, delivering workshops, as well as offering a large number of opportunities for the students to participate in physical activity with simple equipment. The outcomes of this project every year were extraordinary. The Ghanaian teaching staff and students developed key life personal skills such as communication, confidence, belief and self-esteem. The HOW College students developed skills such as empathy, teamwork, confidence, appreciation and perspective.

This project continues to have a huge impact on Heart of Worcestershire Students, education organisations within the community, nursery and school students and Ghanaian communities. Thank you to the sponsors and the organisations that helped to make this project happen, we have helped over 2,000 Ghanaian people’.

 

Where is Mpraeso in Ghana? More Information