Christmas is a time for celebration, spreading festive cheer and giving back to communities during what can be a difficult time for many. At Great Places, we launched the Cheery Christmas campaign to do just that, using Social Value funding contributed by our suppliers.
The latest project saw Great Place’s suppliers Emanuel Whittaker, John Southworth and Moffat & Riley contribute a total of £7,500 to provide various support packages and events including food parcels, presents and activities to various neighbourhoods and schemes.
The 2023 highlights
As well as Christmas parties at Next Step, Pomona Gardens and Bluebell Court, our customers came together to enjoy a three-course Christmas dinner at The North Euston Hotel in Fleetwood.
Bingo, karaoke, music quiz, games and a buffet meal were organised for customers at Bluebell Court, with presents under the Christmas tree. Meanwhile, over at the Pat Midgley Community Centre in Sheffield, some of our elderly customers enjoyed a Christmas buffet lunch, attended by the local councillor Laura Moynahan as well as two fantastic local volunteers Zoe and Brenda who supported getting this event off the ground. Everyone enjoyed the festive fun filled with food, music and laughter.
Through our Cheery Christmas project, we also gave Christmas presents and hampers to customers and their families. Over at Pullman Close, all customers received a special Christmas gift, and customers living at The Harbour, Oliva Lodge, Lorna Lodge, Ellen Court and Docherty Project received Christmas hampers, these all came courtesy of Audacious Church in Manchester City Centre.
Great Places was also able to use a percentage of the campaign funding to distribute vouchers to individuals and families living in our homes who were in need. These vouchers helped to provide gifts to some of our most vulnerable customers, with one individual sharing that they “didn’t have to worry as much” following the support they received.
The 2023 Cheery Christmas project helped 865 customers in total. 316 of these were supported through the 151 vouchers given to families living in our communities, and the remaining 549 were living in 20 of our Independence and Wellbeing schemes which applied for funding.
Great Places is immensely proud of the good work our Cheery Christmas project has done to bring our customers together within their communities and provide much-needed support to those struggling financially and emotionally.
Great Places would like to say a huge thank you to our suppliers, Emanuel Whittaker, John Southworth and Moffat & Riley whose contributions made this project possible.
