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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Downton Abbey stars backs charity's Christmas appeal

This news post is over 3 years old
 

The Hearts and Minds Elderflowers Christmas Appeal supports people living with dementia and their carers

Stars of Downton Abbey have given their backing to a charity's Christmas Appeal.

Actors from the costume drama have pledged to make a very special personalised Christmas video message for a number of lucky supporters of charity Hearts and Minds.

Phyllis Logan, best known for her role as Downton Abbey housekeeper Mrs Hughes, is an Honorary Elderflower and huge supporter of the Scottish charity, as she has had personal experience of loved ones living with dementia. She came on board in 2016 as an active ambassador, so when the call came to ask for her support for the Elderflowers Christmas Appeal she went above and beyond and rallied her Downton Abbey co-stars to help support the charity that is close to her heart.

Phyllis and fellow Downton stars including, Jim Carter, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael and Lesley Nicol have kindly agreed to send a selected number of personal Christmas video messages to a number of lucky people chosen at random in the Hearts and Minds Christmas Appeal for the Elderflowers.

For just £5 a lucky person could receive a special Merry Christmas video from Lord Grantham. The stars are waiting in the wings to wish a Merry Christmas to the lucky supporters whose names will be picked at random on 7 December. Each Downton star will be sent the name of their lucky recipient and they will make them a very special personalised Christmas video message.

Covid-19 has had a devastating effect on the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia and those who care for them. Isolated and unable to be with loved ones, much of what gives life its meaning has been stripped away. The charity's Elderflowers, trained in the art of therapeutic clowning, have continued to provide joy, laughter, and meaningful connections to people who need it most throughout the pandemic, and the appeal will help the charity to continue to do so into the future.

To support the Hearts and Minds Elderflowers Christmas Appeal visit the appeal page.