Carol service raises £16,000 for mental health charity

Credit: Elstree School

We were honoured once again to commence our Christmas Carol season with a sell-out service in aid of the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.

Now in its third year, the event sees the Bradfield College and Elstree Chapel Choirs combine forces to sing a selection of classic Christmas Carols with this year’s joint rendition of ‘O Holy Night’ particularly stirring.

The service was interspersed with readings by luminaries including actor Anthony Andrews and Sophie, Countess of Wessex which captured the spirit of the season.

Thank you to those of you who came to lend your voice to the congregation and donated so generously, raising an incredible £16,000 to the evening’s very worthy cause.

Set up in memory of a young man who took his own life, the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust aims to help people recognise the signs of depression in themselves and others, to equip young people to look after their mental wellbeing and to ensure expert help is available when needed.

The Trust reaches thousands of children and young people, their teachers and parents through its free mental health training in schools. It also gives training in universities, colleges and workplaces, and to GPs and nurses, aiming to lessen the stigma around depression, improve treatment and reduce the number of suicides.