Winter celebrations for all our clients

1 Jan 2023

Manor Gardens was able to provide a lot of cheer and practical help to our clients during the Christmas festive period. A big Christmas lunch, food-staple hampers, and festive treats at our coffee mornings helped everyone get in the mood and feel connected to their community.

Hamper production began back in October, with shopping lists and calculations about quantities being drawn up alongside talking to clients about what they needed. We put together 125 hampers, 60 being smaller with treats for older people and 65 being full of store cupboard and fresh food to help them cook for their large families. Three volunteers drove hampers to those who were housebound and others collected from our Hamper Grotto in the weeks before Christmas. This was funded by Islington's Local Initiative Fund.

We wanted all of our clients to be able to take part in some festive cheer so we put on a large festive lunch with food from around the globe at a nearby hall. Over 50 people came including refugee families and older people with physical health issues. Everyone enjoyed the amazing food, cooked by some of our clients and staff, as well as the chance to chat, reminisce and have fun.

For others who regularly attend our coffee mornings and other weekly activities at Manor Gardens we were able to add a little Christmas magic.

We are also grateful to the Spanish Nursery for providing their annual donation of beautifully wrapped presents for our older clients.