Information on Loughborough

Visit Santa's Grotto and help support Africa

Posted on 11/12/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council

11 December 2009

Visit Santa's Grotto and help support Africa

Photo Opportunity: Santa is visiting the Amazon Young Women's Project based at Leicestershire County Council's Mountfields Lodge Youth Centre, in Loughborough this weekend and everyone is invited to come along!

The Amazon Young Women's Project in partnership with V Involved Leicestershire and Rutland, a youth volunteering charity, has organised the fundraising event on Saturday 12th December at the Youth Centre which is based off Epinal Way in Loughborough.  The Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, Roger Wilson, together with children and young people will officially open the event and welcome Santa at 11.15am.

As well as an opportunity to meet Santa in his grotto ( Fee is £1) and post their wish list, all children visiting Santa will get a FREE gift from the "Toys on the Table" charity which has over the years helped thousands of children.  There will be range of activities for everyone including face-painting, cookie decorating and henna.  Christmas stocking fillers will be on sale including books, jewellery and toiletries.

The excitement will continue with some amazing raffle prizes which have been donated by local businesses and refreshments including homemade cakes will also be available.

The V Involved young people’s Aspiration Christmas Tree, which has been part of the St. Mary’s Christmas Tree Festival will be donated to the Amazon Project. This is a great opportunity to meet the young people and add a message to celebrate the season or write a special note to inspire young people to take up volunteering in their community.

The Amazon Project is in its fourth year and empowers young women from both the V involved team and the Mountfields Lodge Youth Centre to visit Gambia and help the community.  So much has changed since that first visit when there was only the shell of two classrooms – it needed a roof, exterior walls, interior walls plastering, window and door fitting and the laying of concrete floors and paths. Classroom furniture was also needed for the two classrooms.

As a result of the Amazons involvement there has been a positive impact on both the school’s and the village : -

  • The village has now started digging a well and this will allow water to be piped to the school – it is sited about 20 metres from the school buildings.
  • The Imam has made the first visit for over four years to the school and passed on his thanks and appreciation for support and encouragement given to the village by the work of the Amazon Project.
  • The school has two fully operational classrooms classes and two more teachers have been taken on by the headmaster.

Roger Wilson, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, said:

"This event is a fantastic way for people to enjoy the festivities whilst at the same time helping to make a real difference to children, young people and the wider community in Gambia.  There is a lot going on throughout the event and I do hope that everyone comes along to show their support and most of all to have some fun!"

People are welcome to come along to the event from 11am-2pm on Saturday.

For more information please contact:

Janet Holland, Project Manager Mountfields Lodge on 01509 236043 or,

Hasu Joshi, Youth Volunteer Development Manager, vinvolved team Leicestershire and Rutland on 07868 347095