Pictured: 2025 Christmas Candlelight Concert
As Christmas approaches, we're looking forward to bringing people together for our Christmas Candlelight Concerts, two special festive evenings celebrating music, community spirit and the importance of supporting young people experiencing homelessness.
Returning for 2026, our concerts will feature performances from two local choirs in the beautiful surroundings of candlelit churches across York. With live festive music, mulled wine, mulled punch and mince pies, they're a lovely opportunity to enjoy an evening with family and friends while supporting a local charity.
But these evenings are about more than simply enjoying some Christmas music. We're delighted to be joined by two choirs who have their own connections with SASH and share our commitment to supporting young people in our local community.
Acomb Community Choir: Bringing the Community Together Through Music
Acomb Community Choir has been bringing people together through music since 2013. Originally formed as the ADAM Choir for the Acomb Dance Arts and Music Festival, what was intended to be a one-off performance has grown into a thriving community choir that's still going strong 13 years later.
Led by Musical Director Sam Tanner-Smith since its beginnings, the choir welcomes singers of all abilities and voice types. As a non-auditioned choir, there's a real emphasis on friendship, enjoying music together and creating a great sound.
The choir regularly performs at local events, charity fundraisers, care homes and festivals. At Christmas, their repertoire includes a mixture of traditional and modern carols, with something for everyone to enjoy.
For our Christmas Candlelight Concert, Acomb Community Choir will perform a selection of well-known and lesser-known carols, with plenty of opportunities for the audience to join in.
A long-standing connection with SASH
Acomb Community Choir has supported SASH for many years through its Sing for SASH busking initiatives, helping us raise awareness and funds to support young people experiencing homelessness.
The choir was delighted to be invited to host one of this year's Candlelight Concerts, and Musical Director Sam Tanner-Smith explained why supporting SASH is so important to its members: "SASH is an important charity to us as it supports young people directly in our community. We have friends who have hosted for SASH so know first-hand what an impact this incredible charity makes on the lives of young people who need that support and step up when they have found themselves at their most vulnerable."
We're incredibly grateful for the choir's continued support and look forward to welcoming them to this year's concert.
The Clerkes: Sharing Music Across York and North Yorkshire
The Clerkes of All Saints are a York-based chamber choir, formed 15 years ago. They perform a wide variety of music, with a particular focus on visiting churches that don't have a regular choir.
Over the years, their performances have taken them to venues across North Yorkshire and beyond, including Beverley Minster, where they've sung Sunday services, and York Minster for a wedding.
This December, we're delighted that The Clerkes will be joining us at Heslington Church on Friday 11th December, bringing their experience and love of music to our second Christmas Candlelight Concert.
Supporting SASH again this Christmas
We're pleased to have The Clerkes supporting SASH again this year. Last Christmas, members of the choir took to the streets to busk outside York Minster, raising money to help us continue our work supporting young people across York and the surrounding areas.
This year, they'll be swapping the outdoor setting for the warmth and atmosphere of a candlelit church, helping us bring another special festive evening to the local community.
It's wonderful to see local musicians continuing to give their time and talents to support our work. Their generosity helps us raise vital funds while bringing people together around a cause that matters to our community.
Join Us for a Christmas Candlelight Concert
Whether you're looking for a festive evening with family, friends or colleagues, our Christmas Candlelight Concerts are a lovely way to enjoy live music, get into the Christmas spirit and support a local cause.
We're hosting two special concerts this December:
Acomb Community Choir
Date: Friday 4th December 2026
Time: 7pm
Venue: St Edward the Confessor Church, Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1QG.
The Clerkes
Date: Friday 11th December 2026
Time: 7pm
Venue: Heslington Church, York, YO10 5ED.
Ticket prices
Adults: £10
Children under 16: £5
Family ticket (two adults and two children): £27
Mulled wine, mulled punch and mince pies will also be available during the evening, helping make these concerts a lovely way to celebrate the festive season.
Why not join us for an evening of Christmas music and community spirit? Book your tickets today and help support young people across York.
Helping Young People Find Somewhere Safe to Stay
For 30 years, SASH has been supporting young people across York and the surrounding areas by providing safe accommodation, stability and support when they have nowhere else to turn.
We believe every young person deserves somewhere safe to stay, someone to turn to and the opportunity to build a brighter future. Through our network of hosts, volunteers, supporters and local communities, we work hard to ensure young people experiencing homelessness don't have to face their circumstances alone.
The support of local communities, businesses, volunteers and fundraisers makes this work possible. Events like our Christmas Candlelight Concerts bring people together to raise vital funds and awareness, helping us continue providing accommodation and support to those who need it most.
For young people experiencing homelessness, Christmas can be an especially difficult time of year. Having somewhere safe and welcoming to stay, alongside the right support and encouragement, can make a lasting difference. Every ticket sold helps SASH continue its work, giving young people the opportunity to move forward, rebuild their confidence and work towards a more secure future.
Together, We Can Make a Difference This Christmas
Our Christmas Candlelight Concerts are a wonderful example of what can be achieved when a local community comes together.
We're incredibly grateful to Acomb Community Choir and The Clerkes for giving their time and talents to support SASH, as well as everyone who helps make these special evenings possible.
Whether you join us for one of our concerts, share the event with friends and family or support SASH in another way, your contribution helps us continue providing safe accommodation and support to young people experiencing homelessness.
We'd love you to join us this December. Come along, enjoy some festive music and help make a difference this Christmas.
Book your tickets today and be part of something special.
