Festive affair as Swings and Smiles hosts first own Christmas party

It is the first year that the charity, which has been fundraising to build a centre where families with special needs children can play together, has been able to hold an event to celebrate Christmas, having only opened at its temporary home at the Phoenix Resource Centre, Newtown Road, late last year.
On Saturday, families enjoyed arts and crafts activities, baking ‘stained-glass’ biscuits and music and sensory sessions from Hartbeeps and Santa even dropped by in a specially created grotto.
There was also a dedicated sibling’s room to allow brothers, sisters and other family members to take some time out.
Manager for Swings and Smiles at the Phoenix Resource Centre, Laura Lewis, said: “We have had a year of big change.
“It’s a really nice way to end that year with so many children and their families.”