BuskAid, Waterford’s biggest annual busking fundraiser, will bring live music back on to the streets of the city on Saturday, December 23rd, having raised €3700 last year.
Two worthy causes will benefit from this year’s fundraiser, the Tinteán Housing Association and the Waterford Lion’s Club Christmas Hamper Appeal.
From 10am on the 23rd, the festive buskers also plan on turning the city into a ‘walking winter’ music festival.
Said founding member and busking co-ordinator Derek Flynn: “Our plan is to have performers on every street corner throughout the day. We want to bring a bit of a buzz to the city while people are getting their last bit of shopping done – and we have big plans this year for our grand finale as well!”
BuskAid’s grand finale will take place under the Apple Market roof, where all musicians, singers and performers will perform for two hours, in addition to a “very special surprise guest,” as fellow founding member Tadhg Williams put it!
Tinteán Housing Association provides accommodation with support to women and families experiencing homelessness across the city and county. The facilities Tinteán have at Hennessy’s Road in Waterford City are second to none and their service providers are incredibly dedicated.
The donations they receive from the public go towards improving their facilities and bringing in out-of-house services.
Each year, the Waterford Lion’s Club, in coordination with St. Vincent de Paul provides a vital service helping struggling families by providing them with hampers to ease the financial burden that Christmas presents.
Last year, Waterford Lions Club helped over 1200 families and with homelessness figures rising, they expect to be helping over 1400 this year.
Tadhg Williams added: “We wanted to make sure any money we raise stays local. These are two very worthy and very effective local charities and we’re more than happy to be helping in any way we can.” He added, “We won’t stop this year either. We’re expanding this year to try and raise as much funds as possible and we’re going to keep expanding over the next few years.”
BuskAid are committed to tackling the homelessness situation in Waterford and plan on expanding the annual charity appeal over the next few years.
Said Tadhg Williams: “After Christmas, we’re setting about planning out a five year plan that will allow us to grow as a group and allow the appeal to grow in order to raise more money and more awareness for our beneficiaries. We did well last year – this year is going to be both bigger and better and we want to keep that going over the next five years.”
For further information, please contact Tadhg Williams on 083- 3967065
or log onto https://www.facebook.com/BuskAidLive.
