Launchpad’s all-star candlelit carol highlight

Liz Nicholls

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Launchpad

Liz Nicholls

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Reading’s leading homelessness prevention charity invite you to enjoy Carols by Candlelight on Tuesday, 3rd December

This fantastically festive evening will return to Reading Town Hall from 6pm, with Launchpad patron and BBC presenter Matt Allwright and long-term supporter Andy Briggs as the hosts for the evening.

Enjoy a magical night of music and carols with the Take Note Community choir and the Reading Phoenix Choir. As well as seasonal songs there will be readings and inspiring stories about how, with your help, Launchpad is changing lives in Reading.

Every ticket sale will help Launchpad continue to provide homes for Reading’s most vulnerable this winter. Launchpad’s supported housing offers warm, clean, and safe accommodation for over 100 people in need – which are a lifeline to the many individuals, couples, and families at risk of homelessness, or who have already lost their homes.

Fiona Keyte, fundraising manager at Launchpad, says: “Every year, people tell us that Carols by Candlelight marks the start of their Christmas celebrations. Our event is a beautiful reminder of the spirit of community and the joy of giving during the festive season. We’d love to see you there!”

Tickets start at £12 per person and under-threes can attend for free. For more information and to buy your ticket, visit Carols by Candlelight 2024 – Launchpad

For anyone who is unable to attend, you can still support Launchpad’s work with a donation so the charity can help ensure local people have a roof over their head and a place to call home, for Christmas and beyond. Simply visit Donate – Preventing Homelessness In Reading

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Flipping fantastic Launchpad fundraiser

Karen Neville

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Launchpad

Broader smiles than ever on Broad Street at the annual Pancake Day race

Launchpad’s annual Pancake Race which saw 34 teams brave the weather and batter it out on Broad Street celebrating Shrove Tuesday has so far raised £8,500.

The team from RSM UK, dressed in their animal-themed costumes, lifted the coveted frying pan trophy – becoming the 27th champion team. The money raised by all the amazing teams will help fund Launchpad’s vital services across Reading supporting people who are homeless, or at risk of losing their home.

Teams of four representing businesses and other groups from across Reading flipped pancakes as they competed in knock-out stages and a fantastic final. All the races were compered by Tarek Ahmed, from B Radio, much to the delight of hundreds of cheering onlookers, including the Mayor of Reading, Tony Page who presented the prizes. 

Winners RSM UK received a Cocktail Masterclass at The Roseate, and runners up, Nexus Planning were given vouchers for Wine and nibbles for four at Veeno. Third-place team Air IT won Afternoon tea for four from Afternoon Tea Box (Crumbs Food Co).

The team from Take Note Choir were best fundraisers, raising over £865 and won bottomless brunch for two and afternoon tea for two at Revolucion de Cuba. Collard Environmental – who raced as characters from the Wizard of Oz – won best fancy dress and received a £50 voucher for Honest Burger. Field Seymour Parkes were highly commended for their fancy dress and won £40 of vouchers for Shed. Our team spirit award went to Phantom Brewery who won Cocktails for four at Novotel. Winners of the Great Pancake Flip off were The Oracle, winning four tickets to The Biscuit Factory after flipping a pancake 57 times in a minute!

The entire Launchpad team is incredibly grateful for the support from these amazing local businesses and community groups.

Kirsti Wilson, Head of Fundraising and Marketing, said: “It’s brilliant that our Pancake Race has been as wonderful as ever. Every year the race is full of amazing costumes and laughter – and this year was no exception, even with the unfortunate weather. Few will forget the ‘2024 Where’s Wally Wiggle?’!

“We’re also grateful to the hundreds of people who cheered on the runners and made donations at the event – AND to our amazing team of volunteers – the race just wouldn’t be the same without them. Our fun-filled event has a very serious purpose – to raise funds and awareness that we are here for anyone in Reading who has become homeless, or is at risk of losing their home, regardless of circumstances.”

For more information about Launchpad and to donate, visit: launchpadreading.org.uk

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Join Launchpad’s Carols by Candlelight

Karen Neville

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Launchpad

Homelessness charity’s festive evening at Reading Town Hall on December 5th will mix music, readings and tales of Launchpad’s work

Get ready to sing your heart out for a fabulous cause on Tuesday, 5th December when this year’s Carols by Candlelight takes place at Reading Town Hall from 6pm.

The festive evening will be hosted by Launchpad patron, Danyl Johnson and broadcast journalist and presenter at BBC Radio Berkshire, Bridgitte Tetteh.

Launchpad will be joined by the English Martyrs Primary School choir and Take Note Community choir. As well as seasonal songs there will be readings and inspiring stories about Launchpad’s work with people in housing crisis.

Every ticket sale for this unmissable evening will help Launchpad continue to provide homes for Reading’s most vulnerable this winter. Launchpad’s supported housing offers warm, clean, and safe accommodation for over 100 people in need – which are a lifeline to the many individuals, couples, and families at risk of, or who have already lost their homes.

Fiona Keyte, Fundraising Manager at Launchpad, said: “Every year people tell us that Carols by Candlelight marks the start of their Christmas celebrations. I’m really looking forward to hearing some great singing this year, while knowing that we’ll be helping people across Reading too.”

Tickets are £12 per person and under 3s can attend for free. There is unreserved seating but accessible seating can be requested at the point of booking. For more information and to buy your ticket, visit lpcarolsbycandle.eventbrite.co.uk

There will also be some incredible prizes to be won in our raffle on the night – including a £50 voucher for Bill’s restaurant, dinner for two in the Reading Room at The Roseate and a tour of the Double-Barrelled Brewery. Please bring cash or card with you to enter the raffle!

For anyone that is unable to attend, you can still support our work with a donation so we can help ensure local people have a roof over their head and a place to call home. Simply visit launchpadreading.org.uk/donate

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Broad smiles on Broad Street

Karen Neville

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Launchpad

Launchpad’s annual pancake day race raises almost £8,000 as teams batter it out for glory

A total of £7,900, and counting, has been raised at Launchpad’s annual Pancake Race which saw teams batter it out on Broad Street on Shrove Tuesday, 21st February.

A team from creative agency TMW saw off all competition and took home the coveted frying pan trophy. Now in its 26th year, the race was sponsored by Reading based technology solutions company, TIEVA and Reading Town Centre BID (part of REDA, Reading’s Economy & Destination Agency). All the money raised will help fund Launchpad’s vital services for people who are homeless, or at risk of losing their home.

Teams of four from businesses across Reading raced in fancy dress after a lively warm up at Broad Street Mall – led by fitness instructor, Maggie Watkins. Teams then paraded to Broad Street where they flipped pancakes as they relay raced through knock-out races, semi-finals, and a gripping final, all compered by Gavin Harris from B Radio in front of an egg-static crowd of spectators, including the Mayor of Reading, Rachel Eden.

The final was a hotly contested race with teams from planning and development consultancy, Lichfields, creative agency TMW and IT company, Air IT giving their all to win top prize.

Our winners, TMW received the first prize of a Cocktail Masterclass for four at The Roseate, and runners up, Air IT were given vouchers to spend at Shed cafe. Vouchers for Blue Collar Corner Bar and Street Food were awarded to Lichfields for third place. The team from Aldermore raised over £400 and won a Revolución de Cuba voucher for the highest fundraising total.

Davis Tate – who raced as characters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – won best fancy dress and received cocktails for four at High Spirits. Metro Bank won the award for best team spirit, with a prize of cocktails for four at Novotel.

Kirsti Wilson, Head of Fundraising and Marketing, said: “It’s so wonderful that the pancake race has been embraced by the local business community – 36 teams signed up this year and we had more on a waiting list! The costumes were as incredible as ever, with Peaky Blinders rubbing shoulders with Oompa-Loompas and astronauts. We’re also grateful to the hundreds of people that cheered on the runners – the race just wouldn’t be the same without them. Our joyful and silly event has a very serious purpose – to raise essential funds and awareness that we are here for anyone that has become homeless, or is threatened by homelessness, regardless of their personal circumstances. In these challenging times this is a vital message.”

For more information about Launchpad and to donate, visit Home – Launchpad.

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On your yolks for pancake race

Karen Neville

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Launchpad

Launchpad’s annual Pancake Race, Reading’s most egg-citing event is back, on Shrove Tuesday

Launchpad is inviting local businesses and organisations to compete for the coveted frying-pan trophy – and entertain Reading shoppers and workers as they do so in this year’s Pancake Race.

Teams of four are asked to do their best fancy dress and flip pancakes as they race the route on Broad Street on Tuesday, 21st February at 12.30pm. Registration is now open for the event.

Launchpad’s Pancake Race is now in its 26th year. All the money raised from this event funds the charity’s essential services for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home in Reading.

These include supported housing; a free drop-in service for anyone in housing crisis; and a work and life skills centre so clients can build confidence, learn new skills and get back into work.

As well as the coveted frying pan trophy and the adoration of the people of Reading for the winners, there are also prizes for second and third place, best team spirit, best fancy dress and best fundraising team.

Last year’s cracking winners, local accountancy firm, Crowe UK, took their bird-themed fancy dress to the top spot. But what will this year’s winners be wearing? Whether you rock up as dinosaurs, chickens, fast food or astronauts – (almost) anything goes at Launchpad’s Pancake Race when it comes to fancy dress. There have been clowns, bananas, the Spice Girls, crows, barristers and Morph suits scrambling for first place.

Vicki Lewis, Launchpad’s fundraising manager, said: “The annual Pancake Race is a really popular event and is thoroughly enjoyed by all, whether you are taking part or spectating, it is a sight to behold! The costumes and Olympic-standard competition make it quite eggs-traordinary!

“Launchpad is very much a local charity working in close partnership with the Reading community. The ongoing support we receive from local businesses is greatly appreciated. The event is a really fun way for people to get involved and join in with this incredible sense of community spirit. And in such uncertain times, the money raised by our wonderful teams is more important than ever.”

To take part email [email protected] by Monday, 13th February with your name and contact details.

Race registration is £99. There are 34 places up for grabs for teams of four. Places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Launchpad are also asking for volunteers to help with team registration, bucket collections and monitoring participating team’s pancake flips! To get involved, please email [email protected] for details.

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Join Launchpad for carols and kindness

Karen Neville

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Reading homelessness prevention charity is holding a fantastically festive evening of Carols by Candlelight

Candle by Candlelight is set to be a fantastically festive evening on Wednesday, 14th December in aid of Reading charity Launchpad.

Featuring the joyful Reading Community Gospel Choir and held at the magnificent Concert Hall in Reading Town Hall from 6pm, the much-loved event will be hosted by Launchpad patrons, Matt Allwright and Danyl Jonhson, and will also include performances by Bulmershe School Choir, readings by special guests, a raffle, and inspiring stories about Launchpad’s work with people in housing crisis – all against the backdrop of magical candlelight.

Every ticket sale for this unmissable evening will help Launchpad provide homes for Reading’s most vulnerable this winter. Launchpad’s supported housing offers warm, clean and safe accommodation for up to 104 people in need – which will be a lifeline to the many individuals, couples and families due to be made homeless by the rise in the cost of living over the coming months.

Vicki Lewis, Fundraising Manager at Launchpad, said, “We’re often told the Carols by Candlelight is a real highlight of the festive season, so we are incredibly excited to be able to bring the event back indoors after we were forced to cancel it two years running during COVID. This year is going to be a truly special event at a brand-new venue for Launchpad! The Concert Hall at Reading Town Hall will look simply beautiful bathed in twinkly lights and will be the perfect setting for some stunning sing-along performances by Reading Community Gospel Choir and Bulmershe School Choir.

“On the night, we’ll also hear about our client’s experience of homelessness at Christmas and how Launchpad provided them with supported housing to help turn their life around. This year we are fundraising to support the many local people who will be left without a place to call home this winter and by coming along to Carols by Candlelight, Launchpad can continue providing warm, clean and safe accommodation for Reading’s most vulnerable people.”

Tickets are £10 per person and under 3’s can attend for free. There is unreserved seating but accessible seating can be requested at the point of booking.

For more information and to buy your ticket, visit launchpadreading.org.uk/carols

If people are unable to attend, Launchpad are kindly asking for a donation this Christmas so they can continue ensuring local people have a roof over their head and a place to call home.

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