New guide helps carol singers keep safe and welcome
A new guide for carol singers to keep them safe while singing from door-to-door this Christmas has been published today by Ecclesiastical Insurance as part of its campaign to keep the tradition of carol singing alive.
The Gloucester-based company has also launched a poster for home owners to display inside their front windows to show that carol singers are welcome.
The guide, available from Ecclesiastical's website, explains how to organise door-to-door carol singing, gives safety tips and explains good etiquette for carol singers - for example, not calling too late in the evening or being ‘pushy' with the collection tin.
Key tips for carol singers include:
Sing in a small group rather than alone or in twos; this will be safer.
Consider identifying the church or charity you're singing for so people are assured you're official.
Wear reflective clothing.
Never stand and sing in the road itself.
Don't carry too much money. If donations are coming thick and fast, make provision to drop off some of the money or have it collected from you.
In addition, Ecclesiastical's poster for home owners is also available for download from the website. Headlined ‘Carol singers welcome here - we accept tidings of comfort and joy!', the bright A4-size poster can be displayed on a front window or door to let door-to-door carollers know that their presence is welcome.
Ecclesiastical's Church Insurance Manager John Coates said: "We want to encourage people to go carol singing this year and for householders to give them a warm reception when they knock on people's doors.
"When we conducted our survey back in the autumn, only 2% of the British public said they were planning to go door-to-door singing. That's very low compared with the number of people who take part in other Christmas traditions so our campaign and this new guide are aimed at changing that.
"If you'd like carol singers to call at your home, we're urging you to print out the poster from our website and display it where singers can see it and know they'll get a warm reception.
"Let's keep carol singing a healthy and vibrant part of the British Christmas."
Ecclesiastical's campaign was launched this autumn following research by the company that showed 74% of the British public believes carol singers are not as welcome as they have been in the past. A further 29% of Britons said that they did not want carol singers to call at their homes and 19% said they would not open their door to carol singers.
The guide for carol singers and the poster are both available for download at ecclesiastical.com/christmasfactor.