Warrington Youth Zone announces Christmas schedule for kids to enjoy

Formerly Warrington Youth Club the site, now located on Dallam Lane, is an unmissable building packed with facilities and activities for all children to enjoy, and the charity is hoping to transform the space into a winter wonderland for the season.

While this Christmas may be a testing time for many families in Warrington, the passionate staff and volunteers of the Youth Zone have organised everything from a Cinderella pantomime, Christmas parties, holiday clubs and a Santa’s grotto to get children into the festive spirit.

But the best bit is yet to come… as entry to all three floors of the fantastic facilities including to any events the charity organises is just 50p, with hot meals for £1 waiting inside.

And Youth Zone organisers will be ‘bringing Christmas to the kids’ this year too with a Santa’s sleigh parade that will brighten up the streets of Warrington over a 6-day period.

The sleigh along with many volunteers dressed head to toe in Christmas will travel around many areas of Warrington during the evenings, starting from December 12 to 15 and running again from December 19 to 22.

An interactive map will feature on the WYZ website to allow children to track where the sleigh is, so they don’t miss their chance to see Santa.

Paul Griffiths, Grants and partnership manager for WYZ explained how the organisation have also just launched their Christmas appeal which will be ‘bigger and better’ than ever.

“Unfortunately, there are going to be lots of children and families that are going to struggle more than ever because of the cost-of-living crisis so we are looking to support at least 250 vulnerable families by providing hampers this year,” Paul said.

“We are currently appealing for non-perishable foods that will help people over the festive period, as well as toys and gifts for young people 0-19 years to include in the hampers.

“We are working in partnership with WBC and Warrington Food Bank this year to come together and make sure no one is missed out.”

The deadline for donations, which can be dropped off at the reception area on site, will be on Friday, December 16 and hampers will be hand-packed by volunteers and employees at WYZ with deliveries of the hampers starting on Monday, December 12.WYZ have planned lots of events for children to get involved with this year including the return of the Santa's sleigh which will visit many areas of Warrington during December. (Image: Supplied)

CEO of the organisation, Dave McNicholl said: “After opening Warrington Youth Zone in July 2022, we are really looking forward to supporting many children, young people, their families, and members of the wider community.

“As you can see, we have lots of exciting plans for the festive period including our Santa Sleigh which will be returning to Warrington on the weeks before Christmas. I would like to thank all our supporters who have made the Youth Zone a reality and allowed us to be here for children and young people 365 days a year.”

The charity is appealing for Christmas elves to help sort gifts, pack and deliver hampers and take part in the festive Santa’s sleigh parade, if you want to get involved contact Dan at daniel.burns@wyz.org.uk

Here is a list of the Christmas events to look out for at WYZ:

• Cinderella Pantomime 8th-10th December these will be bookable via our website

• Springboard Christmas Party 18th December 11am-3pm

• Junior Christmas Party 17th December and 20th December 4pm-8pm these will be bookable via our website

• Senior Christmas Party 19th December 4pm-9pm

• Holiday Club 19th December - 23rd December & 28th-30th December, this will be bookable via our website

• HAF Club 22-23rd December and 29th-30th December

• Santa sleigh across Warrington in the evenings of 12-15th December and 19th-22nd December. There will be a Santa Tracking Map on our website.

• Hamper delivery from 12th-16th December & 19th - 22nd December

• Normal sessions will run throughout the Christmas & New Year period