Paradise Birmingham

Paradise has been working with several community and charity partners. Read more below about our Christmas work with the Ladywood Project, a community group in the centre of Birmingham that helps local people access help, work and educational activities.

Ladywood is an area with a high incidence of child poverty and many of the families helped by the project would not be able to afford a visit to see Father Christmas. Our parties are therefore very popular and this year was no exception.

Last year we were unable to put on our usual children’s parties so this year we wanted to make them as special and safe as we could. Normally we would hold one party for 150 children but we wanted to observe social distancing.

We decided to hold three smaller parties.

We made our grotto magical with beautiful lights and decorations. We created wall hangings, hand printed and decorated by our parents and children and with the help and support of RBSA.

Wrigglers party. Under 3’s

This was for the children who attend our weekly stay and play group. We held it in the Boughton hall at the community centre and had the usual games, pass the parcel, party food and dancing. We had an appearance from the Elf and Santa gave presents to all the children and let them sit on his sleigh with their parents for photos.

20 Children attended with their 20 parents.

Parties held on Saturday 18^th and Monday 20^th December.

These were for children aged 4-11.

We held these at the community centre. We had an entertainer (Maddom) who did magic tricks and balloon sculptures, a DJ for each day, who organised games and dancing, a local face painter and the children made crowns with our extensive craft supplies.

Santa was in his grotto for the children to visit and were given presents. A lunch pack with a sandwich, drink, fruit and crisps was given when they left. Their siblings were also given a book and chocolates.

We had a prize draw (there was a free ticket issued to each family) and 10 families won  a hamper (donated by Acme whistles)

In total 123 children attended with 78 parents.

We were greatly helped by a team of local volunteers and would like to thank staff from BHSF who wrapped all the presents, Julian and Adrian from Galliard who helped put up the grotto and sorted out the lighting, Clarkeprint who printed all the posters and leaflets for free and Bram, Rachel, Katerina, Pat, Kath, Gill, Margaret, Bernie, Sanna, Suzanne, Annabel, Paul and Winnie who made the day one for all the families to remember.

Our parties could not have taken place had it not been for the generosity of our funders. Property for kids, Baron Davenport Trust and Paradise Circus.

We are very grateful to them.

All the children really enjoyed themselves and for many it was their first traditional Christmas party.