Press release – 27 March
A popular community choir from Cornwall has raised almost £1,000 for ShelterBox, to support people left without shelter after disaster or conflict.
The Suitcase Singers raised the money from their concerts throughout 2023, with every song sung raising critical funds for the Truro-based charity.
The international disaster relief charity relies on public donations to fund its work around the world. It has helped more than 2.5 million people in around 100 countries since it was founded in 2000. ShelterBox is currently supporting displaced people in 12 countries, including Yemen, Syria, Ukraine, Somalia, and Cameroon.
Leading the choir is Claire Ingleheart, a conductor, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and associate lecturer at Falmouth University. The choir has long supported ShelterBox and performed at the charity’s inaugural Christmas carol concert at Truro Cathedral in December. The choir ended up singing out under the stars after a false fire alarm nearby saw everyone evacuated from the Cathedral mid-service.
Claire says: “The Suitcase Singers love to take their music into the local community and particularly to help raise money for ShelterBox. We’ve been supporting the work of ShelterBox for several years now and feel it’s an absolute privilege to support such a brilliant organisation.
“We particularly loved the concert in the Cathedral, even though we had to be evacuated, it just made it all the more memorable!”
Members of the community choir, who meet weekly at the Zedshed in nearby Penryn, presented a cheque of £930 to Catherine Thornhill from ShelterBox.
Catherine, who is head bookworm for the charity’s book club, says: “We are very blessed with the support we have from community groups and people in Cornwall who raise money to support people who have been uprooted from their homes all over the world.
“We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of The Suitcase Singers and without the support of fundraisers like them we wouldn’t be able to support the number of people we do.”
The charity specialises in emergency shelter aid and is scaling up its response in Gaza to provide thousands of tents to people uprooted from their homes and left without shelter. It has launched an urgent Gaza fundraising appeal as it supports some of the 1.9 million people who have been displaced by the conflict.
To find out more about where ShelterBox is working, how to fundraise, or join its book club, people can visit shelterbox.org.
ENDS
For more information contact the press office at ShelterBox via [email protected].
Notes to Editors
- Images and captions included. Gaza photos must be credited to Mohammed Zaanoun.
About ShelterBox
ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and other essential items to families who have lost their homes to disasters. With operational headquarters in Cornwall, the charity also has 13 affiliate organisations worldwide. The charity has been Rotary International’s project partner in disaster relief since 2012. ShelterBox has supported more than 2.5 million people since it was founded in 2000. www.shelterbox.org
