Greetings all. The festive season has begun and it's time for my annual virtue signalling and insufferable philanthropy. I'll be putting on another charity fundraiser gig this December, donating my gig fee alongside some wonderfully talented and incredibly kind-hearted fellow musicians.

Times are hard on our little island. Interest rates are soaring, energy bills are the highest they've ever been. The NHS and other public services continue to struggle, after years of cuts and underfunding. Record numbers are using foodbanks (and Trussell Trust figures reveal one in five referrals to its centres were from households where someone was in employment - including nurses, shop assistants and youth workers). Homelessness and rough sleeping has risen 38% in the last 12 years. Our society sometimes seems irreparably divided and lost.

The reality of the living situation for many in our country is bleak and many predict that it will only get worse over the coming months. In my opinion, now is the time when we most need to stick together and look out for one another - especially those most vulnerable.

One of the reasons I put on these gigs is that I like the idea of using the skills I have available to me in order to give back. That's why this year, the charity I'll be raising funds for is An Hour For Others.

An Hour For Others is an amazing charity which functions via people volunteering a small amount of their time, and potentially a specific skill set, to help improve the lives of those in need. For example: the founder, Kevin Morland, has a background in decorating and building work - he offers these services free of charge to suitable individuals and organisations in need. The unique and beautiful aspect of this charity is that whatever you have to offer personally will bring your own specific 'flavour' to your donation of time and effort.

Please help me in raising some funds for an awesome charity and simultaneously spreading the message of the importance of community spirit and charitable action. Small donations (equivalent to what you might spend on a coffee or a pint) are just as welcome as large ones! There's the option to donate anonymously too.

Thank you in advance 😁 and Merry Christmas 🎅🏼 

N.B. AHFO aren't registered with JustGiving, which costs £18 pcm, so donations will go to HOBY UK (another charity,  for whom I am Executive Director of Communications), who will then forward the funds. This means that AHFO won't miss out on Gift Aid donations - and is all above board: as a full time volunteer with HOBY UK, I can carry out fundraising on their behalf 👍🏼