Christmas at The Bridge, Pleasaunce Park, East Greenwich
What transport will Father Christmas choose for his arrival at this year’s
event on Sunday 4th December?
EAST GREENWICH Wednesday 19 October 2016: The Friends of East
Greenwich Pleasaunce, www.fegp.org, and local centre for the community, The Bridge,
www.thebridgegreenwich.co.uk, will be holding its annual free Christmas Event on Sunday 4th December from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
Father Christmas will make his grand entrance at 1.45pm ready to see the children at 2pm. A ticketing system will be in action from 1.30pm to avoid long queues.
Over recent years, Father Christmas has surprised visitors to the Pleasaunce’s Christmas event by
leaving his sleigh at home and arriving by alternative forms of transport. A motor bike, sports car,
rickshaw, racing car, ice cream van, police cars and horses and even a boat have all been seen in
the past. Prompt arrival is advised to see what transport he will arrive in this year!
The Bridge, located in the south-west corner of the East Greenwich Pleasaunce (or top right if entering from Chevening Road), will be again transformed into a Santa's Grotto for the afternoon giving children a warm and welcoming environment in which to meet Father Christmas, have a photo
taken and to take part in other festive activities. If children want to write a letter to Father Christmas on the day, there will be a writing table and special post box which Santa will empty and take
with him when he leaves!
Friends of the Pleasaunce will be selling hot mulled wine, mince pies and Christmas cakes and the
Pistachio Café will be providing festive treats. Local musicians will be playing in the park and at
3pm Halstow Community Choir will once again lead visitors in some hearty carol singing.
The event has been running for several years, always with no charge for entrance and a visit with
Father Christmas, but donations are relied on to keep it going.
The Bridge is a self-funded and volunteer-led centre for the whole community, running popular and
affordable play and stay groups for under-5s as well as clubs, workshops and activities for all the
family. The funds raised through these initiatives all go towards the continual improvement of the
facilities and services which have been transformed over the last few years.
THE END
For further information, please contact Harriet Totty on 07779 787092 at The Bridge.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About The Bridge
The Bridge, East Greenwich Pleasaunce, SE10 0LB
The Bridge is a centre for the community located in the south-west corner of East Greenwich
Pleasaunce. Its core business is the provision of stay-and-play baby and toddler sessions and regular hire by children's activity providers, including pre-school activities and an after-school club;
adult yoga sessions and gardening groups are also held. It is available for private hire for children's
and adults' parties and other events.
The former Greenwich Council-run One O'Clock Club was saved from permanent closure by volunteers in September 2011, initially providing just toddler stay-and-play sessions. A Community Interest Company (CIC) was formed and the centre was re-launched in April 2012 in its present state. It
was entirely volunteer-run for the first two years but rapid growth and successful fundraising led to
the employment of a part-time General Manager to oversee administration duties and further expansion and fundraising. The centre still relies heavily on volunteers in many different capacities,
from playgroup supervision to accounting, communications and event organisation. As a result,
The Bridge has become a thriving hub of the community, providing training support for local people
who have taken a career break and are looking to re-enter the workspace. It is also a secure and
popular launch-pad for local businesses.
The Bridge consists of a large indoor play room with adjoining kitchen, adult and child toilet facilities and store rooms, set within a secure enclosed area. It has its own playground and outdoor
play equipment suitable for under-fives.
The centre is always appreciative of offers of help from individual volunteers and local businesses.
It is currently recruiting for a new stay and play session volunteer on a Wednesday afternoon.
Please contact Centre Manager, Raeleen Hutchinson at [email protected] if you are interested in being involved.
Weekly Schedule
Stay-and-play sessions for under-5s run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am-12pm and
12.30-2.30pm and Fridays from 10am-12pm
Please visit www.thebridgegreenwich.co.uk/play-and-stay or email [email protected]
Creation Station - Mondays. Young explorers (1-5 yrs) 9.50-10.40am and Baby Discover (5-16
months) 11.10-11.40am
Contact [email protected] or 0208 454 7808. Pre-booking required.
Gardening Club. Mondays 1.30- 2.30pm. For 2-4 year olds accompanied by a parent, grandparent or carer.
Children will learn about growing vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers; Sow and grow! – discover
the magic of seeds; Explore how food is grown – from soil to plate; Develop different skills and
have a go at gardening; Experience garden-related art and craft activities.
Frog Prince Baby Music. Thursdays 10.30-11.30am. Live music sessions for babies and toddlers. Drop-in £5 per adult (siblings go free).
Please visit www.babymusicclass.co.uk for more information or contact [email protected]
Strala Yoga with Lizzie. Thursdays 12pm-1pm. There are spaces available but you may wish to
contact instructor to discuss ability / injuries.
Contact: Lizzie on [email protected]
Yoga with Damaris. Sundays 9-10am
Contact: 07823337886 No pre-booking required.
http://www.kristawillsyoga.co.uk
The Holly Tree Club. Breakfast club 8-9am and After school club 3.30-6pm every weekday.
Children can be picked up from Halstow Primary School, Halstow Road, Greenwich, London, SE10
0LD.
Email [email protected] for further information.
For general enquiries about activities/hire/volunteering at The Bridge, please contact Raeleen
Hutchinson, General Manager, [email protected]
For birthday party bookings - book online www.thebridgegreenwich.co.uk/hire-the-bridge. Soft play
and games hire packages also available for parties.
For more information, please see our website www.thebridgegreenwich.co.uk