A magical evening with smiles in every direction
Christmas cheer was alive and kicking at Nottinghamshire’s big Christmas party! Hannah Petley, FitzRoy’s Digital Communications Executive, went along and joined in the festive fun.
The party took place in a local football club, so I arrived early to help set up. Kimberley Cockram, Support at Home Manager, and Nicola Astle, Supported Living Deputy Manager, were both there setting tables with festive table cloths, Christmas crackers, and lights, creating a wonderful atmosphere for everyone to arrive to. Staff across all services in Nottinghamshire had pulled out the stops to source lots of raffle prizes and wrap a huge amount of presents â enough for each person we support in Nottinghamshire, which is over 80!
One by one the people we support and their staff started arriving looking fabulous in Christmas jumpers, hats, and party dresses. Conversation, food, and drink started flowing, and it was heart-warming watching everyone having a good time together.
Once the buffet had been devoured and the raffle had been called, it was down to the real business: dancing to the disco! Residents from Huw’s, FitzRoy’s residential home which supports people with complex needs, were all in attendance and on the dancefloor with their support workers, enjoying the wonderful sensory experience of disco lights and sounds. Alongside them were people from FitzRoy Supported Living and Support at Home, all dancing and belting out all their favourite Christmas classics.
It was such a pleasure to witness the evening unfold. The whole event gave the people supported by FitzRoy in Nottinghamshire an important opportunity to connect, make new friends, meet old friends, and be together. When the evening was over my cheeks ached from all of the smiling I had done. Well done to the support teams, managers, and deputy managers involved in making the evening a total success. You are all amazing.â
It was a magical evening with smiles in every direction. Â Not everyone has family or friends that they are able to spend the festive period with. It was an enjoyable evening giving the people we support the option to celebrate Christmas.
Nicola Astle, Deputy Manager
It was a bubbly colourful happy night  that was organised well resulting in a good turnout.