2008 has been a year filled with events, activities, charity fundraising, trips and competitions for the children and young people at northerncare and the fun doesn’t slow down over Christmas – quite the opposite! All of our staff and young people will be celebrating the festive season in various ways, some earlier than the 25th December in order to accommodate the young people’s home visits, but we’re sure they’ll be no complaints about having to eat two Christmas dinners!

The boys at Sycamore House always like to be very hands on so they will be helping their cook by preparing the starters and desserts to accompany a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings followed by the usual party games on the Nintendo Wii and Certificates of Achievement from education.

Mill House will be cooking Christmas dinner for 18 people this year! The home is also joining up with Oakwood and Piers House’s staff and young people for a day of paintballing and then a meal out.

Piers House are also taking part in their annual football challenge against Oakwood, which was won last year by Piers. Who will be displaying the trophy throughout 2009??

Oakwood will be finishing off their celebrations with tobogganing at the Snowdome in Manchester.

Primrose Cottage are also partaking in some festive activities, including a Christmas dinner for 20 people (!), ice skating at an outdoor rink and skiing at the Chill Factor in Manchester.

All the staff and young people from The Elms and The Old Hall will be enjoying a Christmas lunch together at the school they share and some of the young people have participated in an initiative of either washing cars or baking Christmas buns/cakes to sell to raise money for an additional activity and to help give them an understanding of cost, raw product, production, promotion and sales.

One of the young people at The Old Hall has already starred in a pantomime at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield this Christmas called “The Pantomime Odyssey” which was based on every fairy tale ever told. There were 4 showings over a 2 week period and as well as the staff and other young people attending to cheer him on, the pantomime was seen by over 4000 people.

Pennsylvania House will be taking the young people paintballing and for a visit to the zoo.

The Grove is having their Christmas party on Christmas Eve and is also going to watch a pantomime the week after.

The Willows will be eating out for their Christmas dinner and watching the pantomime, Cinderella, at a local theatre.

Newfields will be cooking Christmas dinner early for the staff and young people – 17 in total – we don’t envy the cook!