We started with just a small group of residents who wanted to organise a Christmas get-together to generate a sense of community!
Our first Christmas event was held on the Taylor Wimpey Green in December 2015. It was funded by the Consortium of Developers, and Housing Associations Sovereign and Knightstone, most of which we put towards a community Christmas Tree. Residents donated ornaments and tinsel for the tree and helped to decorate it. Volunteers from St. James Church, Mangotsfield joined us to sing carols around the tree.
LGCA ran a stall with crafts, face painting, a raffle and refreshments. We had donations of mince pies and mulled wine from Sainsburys, and hot chocolate and cups from Costa Coffee.
Father Christmas was invited and he turned up midway through the night on his sleigh to meet residents (Thanks Downend Round Table!) He wasn’t our only celebrity either, as Elsa and Anna (from Disney’s Frozen) were about for autographs and pictures!
We’re pleased we got so much support for our first event; it’s been the foundation for all the great things we’ve been able to achieve since then!
