“It’s been a rough couple of years and we thought this would be a fun way to get the ball rolling again” – Laura and Philip Beswick set up a Tea With Santa event for the community

Walkden residents took the chance for a get together at two Tea With Santa events this week.

Laura Beswick and her son Philip set up the socials at St John (Ellesmere) Community Centre  in hopes of bringing the community together after a rough couple of years of Covid isolation.

The events provided an up-close and personal meeting with Santa as he walked around the tables whilst children enjoyed a hot meal. There were also fun party games that children could enjoy and after a hot meal everyone could go to Santas Grotto and pick up a gift bag made by Laura and Philip. 

This is the first time Laura and Philip have ever set up an event.

She said: “Yesterday went ok but was not as organised as we had hoped but today went much smoother and we had more kids today.” 

And the experience has inspired them both to add a third Santa date next weekend and to do more long-term for the community. Ideas from the feedback forms include Easter egg hunts, and discos.

The gift bags were personalised with the children’s names on them and had loads of different goodies in the bag including colouring books,  puzzles,     notebooks, chocolates and a pencil with their Santa-themed eraser.

Laura and Philip also made little star ornaments to go in the gift bags with each one also being personalised with the children’s name on it.