​Looked after children enjoy festive fun at annual Christmas Party

Foster With Bury hosted the party of the year to share the joy of Christmas with the borough’s fostering community.

More than 200 people, including looked after children, foster carers and Foster With Bury staff, attended the annual Christmas celebration event at the Elizabethan Suite at Bury Town Hall.

The festive evening was filled with a lot of fun, laughter, smiles, disco, games, magic tricks and food, as young people enjoyed entertainment provided by children’s entertainer Barrington Beckford and visits from a number of the children’s favourite cartoon characters including Paw Patrol, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Beauty and the Beast. Face painter Samantha Hornby also helped the youngsters get in the party spirit with free face painting and temporary tattoos.

Tables groaned under the weight of party food - including sandwiches, crisps, pizza, sausage rolls, fruit, biscuits and cakes.

Of course, no festive party is complete without a visit from Father Christmas and the man of the season met each and every child and presented them with a wrapped gift to open. Gifts were donated by supportive businesses around the borough - including Woodcocks, Howarth and Nuttall (WHN Solicitors), of Manchester Road, Bury, flooring company James Halstead PLC, of Hollinhurst Road, Radcliffe and patients and healthcare staff from the Wave Suite at Radcliffe Medical Practice and at Unsworth Medical Practice. Each was individually picked out for each child and wrapped by Foster With Bury’s Ambassadors.

Karen Dolton, executive director of children’s services at Bury Council, said: “It was a magical evening full of Christmas spirit. The children had an amazing time and seeing their excited, smiling faces as they received a gift from Father Christmas was a lovely reminder of what Christmas is all about. It helps the children understand that they are not alone and that others genuinely care about them.”

Anyone who thinks they have the relevant skills and experience to be able to look after fostered children, are over the age of 21, enjoy a challenge and have a spare room can find out more at www.fosterwithbury.co.uk or call 0800 9555 311.

ENDS

Press release issued: 9 December 2019.