At the heart of the SVP’s mission is a simple but powerful desire: to provide help where it is needed most, regardless of faith or background. This Christmas, our goal was ambitious - to create substantial support for families facing difficult times, identified with sensitivity and care by our wonderful partners in our local Primary Schools.

To make this vision a reality, the SVP sprang into action, calling upon the kindness of our Catholic community. We asked for bottles for our Tombola, and you responded with overwhelming generosity. We curated a luxury hamper for the raffle, but we knew we needed to do more to raise the necessary funds.

The solution was an evening of entertainment, and what an evening it was! We were honoured to be joined by the legendary Jeremy McMurray and friends, whose professional musical talents are renowned across the North East. A huge thank you to them for setting the tone for the night.

We hoped for a good turnout, but we were humbled to see our community and friends arrive in their droves. The atmosphere was electric. Jeremy McMurray and friends went above and beyond by running a brilliant musical quiz, which in itself raised further funds. Between this, the ticket sales, a sold-out Tombola that was an immense success, and the raffle for the Christmas Hamper, the total began to soar.

With the funds secured, it was time for the logistics. We headed to Tesco to purchase the stock. A sincere thank you must go to the team at Tesco; they provided a service money can't buy. They painstakingly prepared and organised the food for collection, making the difficult task of transporting such a vast quantity of goods smooth and manageable for us.

These bags were then delivered to the Primary Schools, ready for our partners to discreetly ensure they reached the families who needed them most.

A Snapshot of Pure Joy: Our Community in Harmony

The montage is more than just a collection of photographs; it is the vibrant heartbeat of our community captured on camera. Looking through these images, the sheer warmth in the room is undeniable.

The photos perfectly illustrate the fun of the evening. You can see the triumphant smiles of our many tombola winners proudly displaying their bottles, and there is a wonderful glimpse of the magnificent luxury hamper that helped raise so much funding.

Tying it all together are the fantastic shots of Jeremy McMurray and friends, whose musical talent provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of laughter, connection, and shared purpose.

But beyond the prizes and the music, what truly shines through is the spirit of togetherness. Every smiling face here represents a generous heart working to help others. This visible joy is what made it possible for us to provide 280 bags of food to families this Christmas. It is a beautiful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together.

Thank you from the SVP

It takes a village to make something like this happen. The SVP would like to express their deepest gratitude to every single person involved. Because of your support, your attendance, and your generosity, we were able to bring some relief and joy to so many homes.

Happy and Holy Christmas from the SVP.