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Inspired by Channel 4’s ‘Old People’s Home for 4 year olds’, The Budding Foundation invited 30 residents from the local community to visit Santa’s Toy Factory at South Downs Nurseries this week. Guests from the Villa Adastra Care Home in Hassocks, the Forget-Me-Not dementia group based at St John’s Church in Burgess Hill and a group from a sheltered housing accommodation complex joined local children from Hassocks Happy Feet Nursery to visit Santa in pairs. Clive Gravett, who organised the event said, “It was so wonderful to see both young and old enjoying themselves together and sharing in the joy and magic of Christmas. Many of our older guests had never visited a grotto before and we even had one guest in tears of happiness when she finally came face to face with Santa.”
The visit to Santa was followed up with an afternoon tea and the children sang some Christmas songs for all the guests. The big man himself, Santa, said “It was a wonderful way to end their visit. It was fantastic to see so many smiles and happy faces all afternoon. I’m already looking forward to doing it again next year.”
Santa’s Toy Factory is all for charity, with 100% of ticket sales going to local projects, last year raising over £11,000. We hope to raise 20k this year. You will find it at South Downs Nurseries, Brighton Road, Hassocks BN6 9LY. Advance booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. You can book your tickets online at www.thebuddingfoundation.co.uk
The afternoon was so magical, it even made the evening news! Click HERE to view the news segment, as seen on ITV Meridian.
