Sheffield Mencap and Gateway’s evening social club Gateway hosted three days of fantastic Christmas parties this December, with more than 100 members joining in the celebrations. The events brought together members, staff, and volunteers to enjoy music, laughter, and plenty of seasonal activities.
Each party was bursting with energy and festive cheer, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Members hit the dance floor to enjoy a lively disco featuring festive tunes and favourite party hits. With members dressed in their best Christmas jumpers, the dancefloor was the heart of the party, fuelled by delicious food including pizza, hot dogs and of course mince pies.
Festive games encouraged friendly competition, with prizes adding to the excitement.
Gateway members received gifts thanks to Home Instead’s ‘Be a Santa’ campaign
The Christmas parties were the perfect way to end a successful year for Gateway, with membership at the highest level for years thanks to the tireless efforts of staff and the introduction of a range of exciting new activities.
After the Covid lockdowns and social restrictions, we saw a big drop in member numbers at Gateway. This past year has been all about working with members old and new, getting them confident to come back out to Gateway. We’ve consulted with our members to find out what they want to do at Gateway, and as a result have introduced loads of new activities including movie nights, karaoke, party nights and theme nights, as well as improving the old favourites like bingo and baking. It’s fantastic to have Gateway busy again, and Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate that together!
Laura Zielosko, Gateway Manager
Find out more about Gateway here.
