Over 200 children and young people tucked into a festive feast at Carlisle Youth Zone’s Christmas party, thanks to donations from two local Tesco stores.
The Christmas celebrations took place at the youth centre, which provides a safe meeting place for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and saw children aged between seven and 11 years old enjoying festive treats and party games throughout the day.
Youngsters also made Christmas gifts for their loved ones, including candles and personalised mugs, thanks to the additional donation of creative materials from the stores.
The early evening saw senior youth centre members, those aged between 15 and 18 years old, take part in a hard-fought football match against some of the charity’s business patrons, followed by a nightclub style Christmas party.
As well as kickstarting Tesco Victoria Viaduct Superstore and Tesco Warwick Road Superstore’s support for the charity, which will see more donations and fundraising efforts in the New Year, the celebrations also marked the opening of the youth centre’s Christmas holiday club, which caters for the city’s children and young people most in need.
Carlisle Youth Zone’s development manager, Lynsey Buckle said: “We’re so grateful to Tesco for the generous donations, particularly as another challenging year comes to an end. Being able to host such a wonderful party really makes a difference for young people across the city and for some, this will be their only Christmas meal.
“Over the years we’ve realised that it’s so important for children to be able give a surprise gift to their loved ones. As well as all the edible treats, the donation of arts and craft materials meant that this year, youngsters could make their own Christmas presents.
“We’ve be able to make a difference to more than 2,000 young people living in and around Carlisle over the past year and thanks to Tesco’s ongoing support, we’re looking forward to continuing to make a positive difference in our community.”
Philip Pearson, store manager Tesco Warwick Road superstore added: “We know how the team at Carlisle Youth Zone are making a real difference to the lives of children and young people in the region and we’re absolutely delighted to be playing a role in supporting such a worthy cause.”
