In 2006, The Children's Society celebrates 125 years of pioneering work with children, and you can help them continue this vital work by organising a Christingle celebration of your own.

I am calling on the people of the south to help raise money for the society by getting family, friends and their community together for a Christingle service this Christmas season.

Christingle services are a marvellous way to bring together families and friends in a glowing candlelit celebration. Most importantly they place children at the heart of activities.

Last year over 400,000 children attended Christingle services raising money for The Children's Society.

They are great fun and anyone can arrange a Christingle service including schools, youth groups and churches.

There is a free pack, Create A Christingle, which includes inspirational and accessible materials to help organisers to celebrate and explore the Christmas message with children and young people from their local communities.

As this year the Church of England and The Children's Society celebrates 125 years of working together, there's even more reason to celebrate and to remember England's vulnerable children.

Donations raised at Christingle services year after year enable The Children's Society to work with thousands of children in this country who face life's harshest challenges - children who may find themselves sleeping rough this winter; or fleeing conflict and war; or caught in a cycle of crime; or vulnerable due to a disability.

I do hope you will consider taking part in a Christingle service allowing us to share our faith with our children, young people and community during the Christmas season. With our help we can light up the lives of vulnerable children for many more years to come.

THE RT REV TIM STEVENS, Bishop of Leicester, chairman, The Children's Society Trustee Board,