'Everyone Deserves a Christmas'
30.11.2021
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is supporting the annual ‘Everyone Deserves a Christmas’ campaign, which launches today (Nov 30) with a video single featuring a duet by the University’s Honorary Fellow and Professor of Practice Mal Pope and Honorary Fellow Steve Balsamo.
The annual ‘Everyone Deserves a Christmas’ campaign provides festive cheer for people who need a helping hand in the local community.
This year, with community help, the campaigns aim to create 800, £50 food hampers full of staples like cheese, meat, and vegetables, and added goodies like pudding, chocolate, and crackers. A large team of volunteers will purchase, pack, and deliver the hampers in the days before Christmas.
Swansea City AFC Foundation and the Ospreys in the Community are working with Carolyn Harris MP, Julie James MS, the South Wales Evening Post, Swansea Council, Bay Studios, Amazon, and local businesses, to make this happen.
Professor Ian Walsh said: “UWTSD is proud to back this worthwhile initiative to support our local community and bring a welcome dose of Christmas cheer to the city”.
Professor Mal Pope said: “Christmas should be a time of joy and of giving. By working together, we can ensure that everyone has the joyful Christmas they deserve.
“What started a few years ago with a few friends packing hampers on Carolyn Harris’ kitchen table has now developed into a city-wide celebration of Christmas spirit with up to 1000 families being targeted this year for hampers and presents.”
Carolyn Harris MP was recently named Campaigner of the Year at the Spectator Parliamentarian of The Year Awards.
The reimagining of the classic Christmas Carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, also features the voices of Harry’s Youth Theatre Choir Swansea and the Morriston Salvation Army Band.
The video starts with an opening monologue from BAFTA winner and UWTSD Honorary Fellow Michael Sheen and ends with a special message from OSCAR Winner Catherine Zeta Jones. It also features appearances from Davina McCall, Max Boyce, Elis James, Penny Lancaster, and Bonnie Tyler.
The video was Art Directed by BAFTA Award winning Production Designer Edward Thomas, also a UWTSD Professor of Practice, who has recently returned to Swansea following a year in Malta designing a new Steven Spielberg Film.
Note to Editor
As well as inviting everyone to download and stream the single, the video is available free of charge to groups to use over the festive period and asking for donations to be made to…
https://justgiving.com/campaign/hampers2021
DOWNLOAD AND STREAMING LINKS
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/malpope/christmas-with-the-pope
YOUTUBE LINK
The single is taken from the album ‘Christmas with the Pope’ and is available to stream and download from all streaming sites including Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon Music. The physical CD will be available from select shops or via mail order. Details www.malpope.com
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus
Corporate Communications and PR
Mobile: 07384 467071
Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
