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The Rev Kate Bottley visits County Durham to find out why one primary school has joined forces with the residents of a local care home to spread the joy of Christmas through the annual church Nativity play. Kate meets headteacher Alison to explore the reasons behind this novel collaboration and finds out how it contributes to the town’s status as dementia friendly. As well as meeting the cast, Kate speaks to relatives of the residents from Springfield Lodge care home, who are thrilled to see their loved ones taking part.

Laura Wright is in York meeting Jenny Herrera from Acts 435, a Christian charity who’ve created an online fundraising platform for members of church communities to help individuals with specific needs. Jenny explains to Laura how their process of fundraising is based on the biblical principles of the disciples.

We also hear the remarkable story of a church whose prayers were answered through a ‘Christmas miracle’ of a sack of money that turned a dwindling congregation into a buzzing community. With hymns and carols from congregations across the UK plus an extra special performance from the Bocelli family of Joy to the World from St Paul’s Cathedral.