Nearly 70 parents, carers and children gathered at the recently refurbished Moorings Sociable Club to enjoy an afternoon packed full of entertainment.
The event, organised by our Local Area Plan team, was about bringing the community together to celebrate the festive season. Activities on the day included storytelling, Christmas card and craft making, a raffle, face painting and a Mrs Clause Christmas play. To help guests beat the winter chill, hot drinks and mouth-watering soups were on the menu.
Our communities team works locally to create opportunities for people living in Thamesmead. This includes support for children and families as well as creating opportunities for improved health and wellbeing, and job support and training.
With the cost of living rising, we've been supporting more and more residents to try and help them make ends meet. Lucky ticket holders from the Christmas fun day raffle took home more than 30 prizes which included £25, £50 and £60 shopping vouchers, as well as five refurbished bikes.
Additionally, in the lead up to the event, staff donated £250 worth of groceries to Discover Primary School’s foodbank while a further load of groceries were sent to Bishop John Robinson C of E Primary School. More than 120 families also received food and toy vouchers. This was a joint effort, with the University of Greenwich, Easy Maths Skills and Berkeley Group donating gifts, and London Square donating shopping vouchers.
Uduak Jesuthasan, Peabody’s Children Families & Young People’s Lead for Greenwich and Bexley, said: “There is an increasing financial pressure which many of the families we work with are feeling. We wanted to do our bit in making their Christmas’s a little brighter and bring the community together to have some festive fun.
“The whole community has pulled together with Abbey Wood Station Minicabs delivering the toy and food vouchers to the schools and other organisations contributing with generous donations. It’s so heart-warming seeing the community pull together.”
One family who received the toy and food vouchers said: “This year has been very hard for us financially, especially with the recent rise in prices. Despite saving we were still short in buying presents and food this Christmas. You have removed this worry and now we can enjoy Christmas. Thank you so, so, so much.’’
Another family who received a toy voucher commented: “Christmas wouldn’t have had the magical feel this year for my children, as I simply couldn’t afford what they asked for. I wish you could see my two kids faces as they open the presents they asked for, as without your help the magic wouldn’t have been there.”
