The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Santa popped in to help The Meadows Day Centre celebrate its first Christmas as a newly independent charity.
The centre, which provides a place for the local elderly people to go and mingle together, put on two huge Christmas parties for its regulars on Monday and Tuesday.
As well as fantastic musical entertainment and turkey dinner, the staff put on their own unique takes of the pantomime Cinderella and the 12 Days of Christmas as well as general manager Liz Walmsley’s version of Pam Ayres’s Wonderbra Song.
The event comes just after The Meadows became its own charity, breaking away from being under the Age UK banner.
Liz said: “Everyone was smiling and seemed to enjoy themselves.
“It’s an exciting time for The Meadows as we’ve decided to go it alone.
“We felt as if it would be the best for the local people that need us that we be a local charity serving local people.
“Everything is staying the same, it’s just a change of name really.”
The volunteers behind The Meadows have taken on everything that was previously the Spalding branch of Age UK, including the Pinchbeck and Holbeach furniture recycling services.
They have numerous volunteers help out with the services they provide, but are always looking for more including drivers to collect people to attend the Day Centre and escorts to accompany them on the transport.
There’s a fee for attendance to the Day Centre sessions aimed at getting the elderly out of their homes and being sociable with others.
“Certainly everyone seems to be very supportive of what we’re trying to do,” Liz continued.
“We’re in charge of our own destiny now.”
For more information and details of how you can help, visit http://www.themeadowsspalding.co.uk
