In December 2018, violinist Anna Downes went into Birmingham city centre in the rain with her initially reluctant children to hand out food parcels to the homeless. What they saw shocked them - they gave out 40 food parcels between Snow Hill Station and the underpass by New Street. Some of them were in drenched sleeping bags, in wheelchairs and with limbs missing. The boys talked to every one of them, taking an interest and wishing them Happy Christmas. Anna decided there and then she wanted to do something using her musical skills and contacts, and www.musicforsanctuary.org was born. The first concert was given by Hollie Whittles and Alistair Moseley and since then there have been over 130 performances in concert and online, involving big numbers of the most generous and talented musicians. As of November 2023 the grand total raised for the homeless since the first concert in February 2019 is £22,505, which has been split between Wyre Forest Nightstop, Leslie's Care Packages, Good Shepherd Wolverhampton, St Basil's Birmingham, Black Country Foodbank,
The Salvation Army Worcestershire, St Paul's Hostel in Worcester and
Good Soil Worcester.