Festive Fiesta

It all came from a conversation. Just 4 months earlier the girls were discussing how it was a shame more wasn’t being done for kids in the community. Instead of waiting for someone else to do it, these determined young people, turned their frustrations into action.

Matthew Barton, from Radian Housing commented “We were delighted to provide some funding to help make this event possible. It’s young people like these who are the future of our communities.”

The team met weekly over a period of 3 months making wallets and cards to sell, designing flyers, decorations and meeting groups to organise the music, bouncy castle and café. The community really got behind it, with donations and support from the church, residents and the sound emporium, a local music business.

Mark Annetts, Assistant Manager of the Bemerton Heath Centre where the team met weekly to plan said “We were very pleased to host this group of positive, young girls at the Bemerton Heath Centre and assist with their preparations for their Christmas event. It was especially pleasing as this age group can be difficult to reach at times, however, they were all a pleasure to work with and appeared to have some very good ideas and really wanted to make a difference to their community.”

A local resident who attended the event with her daughter commented “I had a lovely evening listening to all the young people singing. I took my two year old to see the Santa’s Grotto. I think it’s great that the children have somewhere to go and things to do.”

The team said “We were worried that it wouldn’t work out the way we wanted it, but it turned out really well. Everyone looked like they were having a great time. We are so proud of what we have achieved and feel confident about making the next event even better!!”