The KSL Music Collective, a group of musicians including alumni of the University of Kent (Medway) have come together again this year, to bring Christmas cheer to audiences far and wide through a Virtual Christmas Concert – The Spirit of Christmas 2021.

The concert will be streamed via YouTube on 19 December 2021 at 17.30 and will cover a variety of Christmas music performed virtually by singers and instrumentalists. The aim of this event is to share a programme of seasonal music whilst fundraising for a good cause. The group came together last year during lockdown when they put on a successful virtual concert to raise funds for the Medway Street Angels charity for the homeless and a second Spring concert supported the Young Minds charity.

This year they are fundraising for TTVS – a charity that improves lives through supporting young carers, older people living with dementia and people seeking employment, and St Anne’s Bagshot who have supported their music performances and local communities. The concert is organised by Arun Silva, an organist and singer and alumnus of the University of Kent at Medway. The group includes musicians who have studied at the Historic Dockyards campus.

The concert is free to watch on YouTube. Donations can be made via the JustGiving page. To access the programme and receive a link to view the concert, viewers should register free via the Eventbrite page or the Facebook event page. Two lucky donors, selected via a prize draw, will each win a box of brownies from The Beeston Brownie Company. TTVS delivers a diverse range of projects that together seek to improve lives and build healthier and more resilient communities, including young carers, older people living with dementia and those struggling to find employment.  

The charity provides support over a large rural area of over 380 square miles, with limited public transport, access to jobs or further education.   In 2019, Torridge was ranked 67 out of 326 on the Government deprivation indices, with reduced access to housing and services, lower income and poorer physical and mental health.  

St Anne’s Bagshot has supported music over the years by hosting concerts, other events and continues to be a welcoming hub for the local community. Some of the concert performances will be filmed at St Anne’s. More about TTVS projects can be found on their website. This event is produced and promoted by Silva Media.