Carol singing for CAFOD

Whether you are carol singing in your local community or holding a carol service, here are our top tips - and you can scroll down for more ideas in our detailed guides.

A quick guide to carol singing!

Get out into your local community

The busiest places are where the most people will hear your lovely singing – and so you’ll raise the most money!

• Outside your local shops or train station, or even in front of your church if that’s somewhere lots of people walk past.

• Choose your time and day, and then get permissions from the landowner and your local council.

• You may need to be flexible if it’s a popular spot!

Get ready

Once you’ve requested any permissions, make sure you can collect donations from your happy listeners!

• Order a contactless payment device from CAFOD.

• Order CAFOD lanyards so people can simply scan the QR code.

• And contact your local CAFOD representative to get some collection buckets and tins.

Get singing

You need a core person or group who can carry the singing, and then recruit more to come and join in the fun!

Who can lead the carols? Find a good singer, a whole choir, or even a band.

Invite your church, friends, or local groups to come and sing. Myrrh the merrier!

Make sure you have enough carol sheets printed – you can reuse them next year too! 

... but wait, there’s myrrh!

• Keep your singers happy and hydrated – singing is thirsty work.

• Keep warm! Don Christmassy jumpers and woolly hats – or even Nativity-inspired fancy dress.

• Up the festivity by laying on mince pies and hot drinks or mulled wine – the perfect finale after all your singing exertions!

Carol singing online

Family and friends living in different areas? Online platforms like zoom are a great way to share the joys of carol singing virtually

Thank you, and from everyone at CAFOD – have a very happy and blessed Christmas!