Watch: Community gathers to sing Christmas carols for the residents of Braid Hills Care Home

Samantha Forrest posted on a community Facebook page hoping to gather a few Christmas cards to send to Braid Hills Care Home, and instead managed to organise a whole choir to sing carols outside the home.

Carol singers social distanced outside Braid Hills Care Home

Ms Forrest, a full-time Aldi employee and clinical support worker for NHS Lothian, started the Glimerton community Facebook page at the start of the pandemic to give vulnerable people a space where they could reach out and ask for help with things such as grocery shopping and cooking.

She said it was only intended to be a small group available for a short period of time but it became so popular she decided to keep it going.

She re-posted a link to a story by the Evening News about Braid Hills Care Home seeking Christmas cards to brighten up the home and give the residents a smile and offered to create a drop-off point to help others send cards.

Ms Forrest told the Evening News: “We managed to collect donations as well so that almost 80 residents were getting a community gift and we also managed to get around 20 of the group members to go and do some carol singing.

"The singing itself, although far from perfect, was welcomed by many residents who sat by their bedroom and lounge windows listening and singing along.”

She added: “We, as a community, just wish there was more we could’ve done, but under the circumstances we were limited.

"Joy should be spread around and we thought it was important that the resident knew there were people outside who thought and cared about them.”

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