Children's Home at Christmas
5 live is to push the boat out this year by producing an ambitious live show on Christmas Day, broadcast direct from a children's home.
The 25th December, of all days of the year, is the one most of us associate with home and family, particularly children. But what about those children spending an unconventional Christmas, perhaps in a home that isn't their own, or being looked after by adults other than their parents?
Three months ago we approached The Together Trust, a charity with over 140 years' experience of helping children in the North West overcome challenging circumstances. The Trust provides a whole array of services, including specialist residential care, adoption and social work.
Presenter Sam Walker and myself have been travelling around the North West meeting the people who help make Christmas special for children who need extra support, for a whole variety of reasons.
Care workers have been telling us what makes their hard work worthwhile, parents opening up about the relief that a helping hand can bring, and children sharing with us their Christmas treats and New Year's resolutions.
We've heard eye-opening, heart-warming and inspiring stories and can't wait to share them with listeners - in-between ripping opening presents and getting the biggest dinner of the year in the oven.
You can listen to Children's Home at Christmas at 10am on Christmas Day. It will also be available on iPlayer for seven days afterwards.
Jo Meek is a producer for Children's Home at Christmas
Comment number 1.
At 17:59 27th Dec 2011, what wrote:As ever, in giving everyone but expensive freelance staff three or four weeks off the station forgot to ensure we could hear this - one of many xmas gems. The result was dead-air, broken links and incessant creepy old trails for Bacon or Pete Allen.
An opporunity squandered by laziness, poor production and the rush to get away. The licence fee payers deserve more than this shambles, at Xmas and thoughout the year
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 22:05 27th Dec 2011, Fedster wrote:oh dear oh dear, where has your Christmas Spirit gone?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 06:14 28th Dec 2011, Jackstumps wrote:The whole festive offering - sport aside - has been an absolute shambles. It highlights the folly of the move to Salford; no one wants to present from there at the best of times and certainly not over a holiday period. Disgraceful.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 11:04 28th Dec 2011, Fedster wrote:The watch live facility has not been working for nearly a week now, if you are not going to fix it why keep it on the website?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 18:50 29th Dec 2011, what wrote:The web-cam thing hasn't been working because despite a near billion spend on Salford next to no-one broadcasts from there and they don't want you to know
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 00:00 30th Dec 2011, Pratish wrote:Jo, thanks for the iplayer link - missed the show on the day and always nice to hear inspirational stories at this time of year. Travelling in South Africa at the moment and came across this peace on earth Christmas cartoon I thought you might enjoy!
All the best for the New Year and look forward to tuning in after the holidays!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 09:45 31st Dec 2011, adolfina wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 11:41 1st Jan 2011, stirling wrote:There was simply not enough "live" programmes on 5 Live this Christmas. Too many pre-recorded "review" type programmes.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)