“A lot of these children wouldn’t otherwise get to see Santa or go on rides,” said Malcolm Leonard, member of the Yardley and Sheldon Rotary Club and volunteer for KidsOut’s Drayton Manor Magical Christmas party. “It’s important that they get the same opportunities as other children but without the additional stress of a public event.”

On the 1^st of December, KidsOut celebrated its biggest ever Christmas party at Drayton Manor Theme Park. Hosting more than 1,600 disadvantaged children in addition to their carers, the Drayton Manor Magical Christmas party was the largest children’s celebration in the Midlands, and a wonderful day for those who participated. “The staff were excellent, and the kids loved it,” said Colin Marshall, Assistant Head of St. Clare’s School, a secondary special school that provides placements for pupils with a range of special educational needs, including moderate learning difficulties.

Coming from a range backgrounds, including living in refuge and under economic hardship, the children spent the day in the park for free, with access to rides, a visit with Father Christmas and lunch, all provided by KidsOut in collaboration with Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. “Predictability with our young people is a big thing, and a theme park is a lot to cope with because it’s so sensory and exciting,” said Marshall, who accompanied a group of some 65 children. “It can be a bit of a bullfight normally, but today the kids were a lot calmer because it was so clear and there was no queueing.”

To accommodate the large groups and their unique needs, Drayton Manor closed to the public, giving exclusive access to KidsOut guests.  “The specific needs of these young people are different,” said Marshall. “They’re self-conscious about how they’re viewed in a more mainstream environment and can be very aware of the reactions from those around them. But instead of worrying about ‘the pointers,’ today they could just be themselves. It’s lovely to have that nurturing environment.”

The party comes in the midst of KidsOut’s 25^th anniversary year, in which it is aiming to extend its services to help 50,000 children. In June of this year, KidsOut hosted more than 26,000 children on its annual Big Day Out, bringing some 5,000 to Drayton Manor alone.

Through its Drayton Manor Magical Christmas party, KidsOut hopes to spread a little of the festive spirit with those who really need it. “Christmas is an important time for all children, but it can be especially meaningful for those in difficult circumstances,” said Moulds. “At KidsOut we want all children to feel valued and a sense of excitement for the holidays, even if it is just for one day.”

“We had a fantastic time,” said Marshall. “It was a great way to kick off Christmas.”

KidsOut would like to extend a big thank you to Drayton Manor and its staff for their support in making the day possible, and looks forward to future years of fun as the party becomes a permanent fixture at the beginning of each December.