Santa's grotto..

[tadpole39]

Hi everyone

I am replying as i am a volunteer with whippersnappers at college lodge, I work two days a week doing all kinds of things and I would like to reply to some of the above comments.

Whippersnappers is a not for profit organisation. All the profits made are ploughed back into the organisations work with children with disabilities. there are holiday playschemes outings and workshops, all free to children with disabilities.

Whippersnappers also works closely with local special schools in lambeth and southwark, who use the premises in the park so that local children can experience cooking and life skills classes. Older people also have provision through subsidised lunch and activity clubs. The premises is also used by groups of adults with severe disabilities who can visit the picture gallery and have somewhere to have a cup of tea and specialised changing facilities.

College lodge is beautifully refurbished so that it is accessible to all with lifts and specialised adult changing stations. Nobody who works there is interested in profit for its own sake, and I would warmly invite anyone to drop in and meet us and see some of the work that we do. Whippersnappers will always listen to the local community, its why we are there, and we will listen now.

I certainly wouldnt waste my time working for free if I didnt feel it was worthwhile, so come along and meet us, and make up your own mind!

[Fuschia]

Tadpole - so this grotto is a venture that's purely to raise money for charity?

[Ossa]

Hi tadpole,

Thanks for responding to this thread. Can you tell us, is the Santa's Groto a program for local children, a fundraising event you organize yourselves or an event by an outside company who pay Whippersnappers to be able to use the lodge?

[rachel83]

The website says:

Santa's Vintage Christmas Grotto Dulwich is run as a partnership between Whippersnappers and the owners of the local business, Bleu Furniture. This company has been established for over 14 years and specialises in vintage furniture.

I am sure Bleu Furniture are lining their

Pockets a fair bit!

[Ossa]

Maybe rachel. Or maybe Bleu are loaning atmospheric furniture to help set the stage and letting Whippersnappers keep all the profit. Or something in between.

[spanners45]

On the subject of the Shoe Box, that to me is hugely inspiring (and horribly hard to watch without welling up). I often think how extremely fortunate we are that we can actually celebrate Christmas and such other family holidays. For a few years now (even pre kids), I make a point of taking a couple of bags to a children's centre near us. Some are used things BUT like new (especially clothes as the kids grow so quickly), others are things that have never come out of the box but could be put to better use by someone else. I usually take food as well as there are many families who truly need help. ?

Since the kids arrived, I have started a "policy" for Christmas. They get so many presents on top of what they already have that they barely appreciate them so each year I take a couple away (in time, I hope to ask them to pick two and slowly get them to develop a social conscience - not that I am saying this is the only way) and take those to the centre too.?

I am making a mental list of what will go in our Shoe Box this year.?Thanks for making me aware of this initiative!

[DulwichHamJnrSchool]

Thank you spanners45, for looking at the video and I agree, it really is uncomfortable painful viewing. It was shown to the children in assembly and helps to raise awareness of how others in our small world, not a million miles away, experience daily life. Boxes have started to arrive in our reception area and each box will provide a wonderful gift for a family. They are fun to fill as you can go to stores like Wilkinsons or ?shops and pick up all the bits described on the leaflets. The school office has the leaflets with more information.

[Strawbs]

Hi, what is the shoe box? Sorry I've not watched any video, I'd love to put something like together for a family at Xmas.. X

[Strawbs]

I'll go on to the website and see if I can find a video

[cactus]

Re the shoe box appeal, What is your deadline for receiving the boxes at school?

I've been looking at the website for lists of items needed, and I noticed a Nov 2nd deadline ...

Thanks

[Strawbs]

I found a website this morning and it said (obviously a particular school might be different) there are 11 days left to do your shoebox, Ive never heard it of before and think it is a great idea, so Im going to do mine this weekend

[DulwichHamJnrSchool]

The deadline is Monday 12th November although we are not certain they will be collected on the 13th; however we would love to receive them after this weekend. Dulwich Hamlet in DV.

[cactus]

Thank you, I better get my skates on!

[DulwichHamJnrSchool]

Thank you to everyone who contributed a Shoebox for Christmas - your generosity is hugely appreciated and you have made a large number of families extremely happy this Christmas. We will count up the boxes and post a picture on the School website shortly. Thanks!

[Browncoffee]

LOL - the goat comment has seriously made my day!!! It's so dull today and I really needed this laugh so thank you etta166:-)

etta166 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> snowboarder Wrote:

>

> >

> > I can kind of get over the price for a child -

> > possibly - but a fiver for an accompanying

> adult?

> > Why? Annoys me - like when they charge for

> adults

> > at Soft Play!

>

>

> I usually go into the soft play places and play

> too if I've had to pay... so maybe just ask to see

> Santa too if you've had to pay to go in?

>

> I'm pretty sure that you coiuld see Santa for free

> at Herne Hill market last year, and they had a

> goat too. Granted, it's not quite as good as a

> reindeer!

[minder]

DHJS - I think you should have started a different thread about the shoebox appeal at your school, instead of 'hijacking' the santa's grotto one. Maybe it's because the number of people at DHJS are not getting involved?

This grotto have organised something in the local area, maybe a bit different to the local school xmas fair, so give them a chance.

[Indiana]

Can anyone who has visited the grotto tell us whether it was any good?

[DulwichHamJnrSchool]

Never thought it was possible to get the words "santa" "hijack" and "grotto" into the same sentence until tonight: this is the start of a great new parlour game..

Oh and by the way, thanks went out to the wonderful, generous and kind contributions made by Hamlet parents and others in the Dulwich community, almost a month ago. There's a photo on the website. I expect the boxes are now in transit to Eastern Europe. Thanks again and thanks to minder for reviving this thread.

[Hipe]

I would like to have it back everything what you have from me films, tweets, pictures and anyhting else

[minder]

Well the grotto did come to Dulwich Park last Sunday and that's why this thread was revived.

After saying the advertised event looks horrible, and then going on to ask for boxes - I expect a lot of people did both (went to the grotto and filled a shoebox) but I'm glad your appeal went well.

[Curmudgeon]

Nobody said it looked horrible. Everybody said it was overpriced

I walked past with my children on Sunday and an elf shouted at us to come inside. Like many I avoided it because of the price point and the lack of clarity over where the profits are going

Delighted to hear the Shoe Box appeal benefited though

[sbarry]

Hello

Does anyone know where we can donate toys?

We have more soft toys than Hamleys (guessing, I've never actually been inside) and they are all pristine and have never been used, my little one isn't really into them but got loads of them ss presents. I'd like to donate them before Christmas so some children can enjoy them.

Actually we have loads of other toys to donate as well, but the soft toys are way out of control.

Anyway, please let me know if there is somewhere nearby that is suitable (I can always go to a charity shop with them but I'd quite like them to go directly to some children).

Thanks

[Curmudgeon]

http://www.kidsco.org.uk/

Kids company

[minder]

Hi Curmudgeon - I think you'll find that in a post dated 4th Nov, DulwichHamJnrSchool did say "the advertised event looks horrible".

[sillywoman]

Curmudgeon, I think that kids company link deserves a thread all of its own. :)