Villagers come together to light up Christmas
15 Dec 2020 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Villagers in Scremerston have raised more than £6,000 to help light up their village for the first time this Christmas.
The Scremerston Community Christmas Group was set up in the summer to start raising money for a Christmas light display to try and raise the spirits of the community.
The scheme has not only earned them a Christmas display the whole village can be proud but also the title of one of Northumberland Communities Together’s (NCT) Local Heroes.
NCT was set up by the county council in response to the Coronavirus pandemic to help bring communities in need together with organisations and voluntary groups who could help. The Local Heroes scheme highlight projects which demonstrate community spirit.
The money for the display was raised through a number of raffles, run through the village Facebook group, as well as cake sales and tabletop sales, where restrictions allowed.
Businesses were also approached to sponsor a Reindeer in the new display and Ancroft Parish Council also gave a donation.
Dave Belcher, chairman of the community group said: “We have never really had a Christmas display in the village, but this year, with everything else that has been going on we just wanted to create something for people to smile about.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support from villagers and businesses and now the display is up the feedback has been amazing. The group has also grown from being just about Christmas to thinking about how we can put on events throughout the year to bring people closer together, when we’re allowed to of course.”
Cllr Veronica Jones, cabinet member for NCT said: “It is projects and groups such as this one which have been so important in supporting residents and communities through this difficult time.
“Everyone involved in the project should be extremely proud of themselves, it is another example of the true Northumbrian spirit of coming together when times are hard.”