WOKINGHAM families were able to enjoy a range of festive activities thanks to funding from the town’s oldest charity.
Wokingham United Charities (WUC), whose origins in the town can be traced back to 1451, supports borough individuals and charitable organisations through its Relief in Need fund.
One of its projects is its Christmas Cheer grant, given to charities serving people in the borough experiencing hardship.
This year, grants were distributed between six organisations, helping them to provide Christmas fun and to share the joy of the season with the individuals and families they serve.
CLASP Wokingham, The Link Visiting Scheme, Kaleidoscopic UK, First Days Children’s Charity, The Grub Club, and The Cowshed all received grants to help them alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with Christmas, and to make the season brighter for those who might otherwise struggle.
The grant enabled the CLASP community to enjoy a disco and Christmas party in Woosehill, where members had fun spending the evening together, dancing, and dressing up for fun selfies.
Michele Munroe, CLASP independence support worker, said: “It was a perfect way to get together, enjoy the dancing and singing and celebrate Christmas.”
And more than 150 people were treated to a Christmas lunch they may not have otherwise enjoyed, provided by The Link Visiting Scheme at Floreat Montague Park school, with further meals taken to people unable to attend the venue.
Volunteers at Kaleidoscopic UK, which supports survivors of domestic abuse, were able to fill 63 food hampers with plenty to keep families going during the festive period.
Kaleidoscopic CEO Vickie Robertson, said: “We’re so grateful.
“Feedback from families has, as always, been so heartfelt with many saying their cupboards had never been so full.
“People say how grateful they are to know that they are not alone and that others care.”
First Days Children’s Charity used its Christmas Cheer grant to buy gifts for 60 teenagers whose families are experiencing hardship, and who would otherwise have had to go without a Christmas present.
The charity creates an immersive Christmas presence experience for families in need, enabling parents to choose gifts for their children while the youngsters visit Santa and enjoy the magical North Pole inspired Christmas grotto.
The Grub Club puts on a Christmas party every year for Wokingham families in receipt of free school meals.
This year, thanks to Wokingham United Charity’s grant, they were able to add extra entertainment in the form of an inflatable rodeo reindeer, and to provide Christmas goodies and shopping vouchers to the club’s families.
Like First Days, the Cowshed was also collecting thousands of gifts to distribute to children in need in the borough.
Sacks filled with presents wrapped by its team of ‘Elves at The Cowshed’ were given to many youngsters who would otherwise have gone without.
The Christmas Cheer grant enabled the charity to reach even more families in need.
Susanna and Amy from WUC, whose job it is to process and deliver grants, were delighted to be able to visit some of the Christmas events made possible by the grant, including The Cowshed, to see for themselves how the money is being used.
Susanna said: “We popped down to see The Cowshed packing up their Christmas sacks of toys for children.
“It felt like we had stepped into a real life Santa’s Workshop.”
For more information, visit: claspwokingham.org, linkvisiting.org, kaleidoscopic.uk, firstdays.net, norreyschurch.co.uk/grubclub, thecowshed.org, and wokinghamunitedcharities.org.uk, or search for the organisations on social media.
