Julia's House Christmas carols

Julia's House is back at Christ Church on Monday 7 December for its annual Christmas carol evening, a night that's become a regular part of the festive calendar for the children's hospice. It's the fourth year the event has been held at the church on Cricklade Street, and the Swindon Rock Choir returns as a main feature, leading the room in the carols everyone knows. Between the singing, there are readings from families supported by the hospice, sharing their own experiences of the season.

It's a fundraiser for Julia's House, a children's hospice that supports families across Wiltshire and Dorset. The charity gets only about 8 per cent of its ongoing funding from the government, so nights like this are a vital part of how it keeps going. The money raised helps them care for local children with life-shortening conditions and their families, and the Swindon evening is one of the most joyful nights of their year. This year's event is sponsored by Catalent.

The evening is set in the church, with the audience singing along to the classics and hearing from the families who use the hospice. There's mulled wine and mince pies on arrival, and the concert is part of a wider festive programme the charity runs across Wiltshire and Dorset. Their shops also sell locally designed charity Christmas cards, pre-loved decorations and gifts, with every purchase going toward supporting local children and their families.

Doors open at 6.15pm and the singing starts at 7pm. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children, with under-fives free.