We’re delighted that all 50 of our Advent Activity boxes, Joy in a Box, have been distributed to care homes and other care settings. The box, which we've developed with the help of JABADAO, includes activities and games, especially created music playlists, giant balloons, elastics and scarves, plus digital access to Vamos Theatre performances and short films. There are also guides on creative play and ideas for interactive and communal events, including a family disco and a carol service, to help support staff over the festive period.
Boxes have been sent far and wide, including to Worcestershire, Norfolk, Gloucestershire, Birmingham, Warwickshire and Herefordshire, and have been received in care homes, hospices, day services, sheltered housing and some younger people services including a school and a club.
We are grateful to everyone who has helped to get this resource out to places in need, making Christmas more joyous for residents and supporting hard-working staff throughout the Christmas period. In particular, we'd like to thank the Central England Co-op for its support through the Community Dividend Fund, Councillors Matt Jenkins, Lynda Robinson, Lynn Denham, Natalie McVey, and Simon Geraghty for funding boxes to local care homes, and Black Swan Care, who distributed several to its homes and even got Santa to deliver them.
We’ll be sharing pictures across our social media channels throughout Advent, celebrating the festive period together. Thank you to the wonderful Black Swan Care for this picture of Joy in a Box contents, individually wrapped awaiting the start of December!