CEREDIGION harpist Catrin Finch will be taking part in a star-studded virtual ‘Christmas get Together’ hosted by the WaterAid charity.

The event on Tuesday, December 8 (6.30pm) brings seasonal songs, festive readings and special performances to people’s homes to raise money for the charity’s Future on Tap appeal.

Joining harpist-composer Catrin Finch will be singer-songwriter and broadcaster Cerys Matthews, singer-songwriters KT Tunstall, who performed at Cardigan Castle last year, Katie Melua, and Joe Stilgoe, actors Tobias Menzies and Dougray Scott, and actor and broadcaster Sir Tony Robinson.

Composer Sir Richard Stilgoe has penned an original song for the concert. The virtual gala will be hosted by The Three Degrees singer Sheila Ferguson.

While the concert will be free to watch, WaterAid is encouraging the public to donate what they might have spent on a festive night out.

Proceeds will go towards the charity’s Future on Tap appeal, which aims to raise £3 million to transform thousands of lives with clean water across the world. The UK government will match public donations before February 4, 2021, up to £2 million, making double the difference in climate-vulnerable communities.

WaterAid ambassador Catrin, the former Royal Harpist to HRH, The Prince of Wales, will play a stunning rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”.

In 2015 Catrin visited WaterAid’s work in Ethiopia and in the same year released a self-composed album “Tides” in support of the international charity.

She said: “Music is such an intrinsic part of Christmas celebrations, and I’m delighted to be joining this virtual festive fundraising concert.

“The Future on Tap appeal is very close to my heart as I have seen first-hand how WaterAid’s vital work is transforming lives in Ethiopia. It’s a terrible injustice that 785 million people don’t have clean water, affecting their health, education and livelihoods; and now climate change is making life even harder.

“Together, we can help make a real difference to people’s lives around the world.”

Just £10, roughly the cost of a short taxi ride, would pay for 2.5 metres of pipe to bring water to a community, and with matched funding, the donation could go twice as far. A donation of £140, the cost of a big night out, could power a pump with a solar panel, and with the UK government doubling it, the donation would mean £280 for clean water projects.

One in 10 people globally do not have clean water, and erratic and extreme weather brought on climate change is making it much harder for the world’s most vulnerable people to get clean water. Access to clean water helps keep people healthy and resilient to the effects of climate change.

To receive your link to watch the concert, you can register and donate at WaterAid’s website at: https://www.wateraid.org/uk/christmas-concert