Santa said he loves coming to Lodge Lane because he loves getting a shawarma from the Lodge Lane Bakery. He was chatting to Pat from the Greenhouse project when we arrived, delivering a few extra presents and seeing the toys that had been donated.

The Greenhouse Project enables children, young people and their communities to access support. They offer indoor and outdoor activities and every Christmas every child gets a gift. It’s really special and the most amazing, wholesome, festive good gym community mission in the calendar.

Good Gymers help to wrap all the presents. Pat said that this year they were short on gifts and Santa had no more in his sack as they were still in production at the North Pole so Good Gymers came to the rescue, we arrived with games, crafts and toys and then there were more than enough gifts for every child.

We bought snacks to enjoy and played Christmas songs as we wrapped away. Heetu was the quality control ensuring we didn’t waste any paper. Ema, our area coordinator was ill so couldn’t make it but she sent all the Good Gymers gifts to say thank you for the year which was a lovely surprise. Santa also gave us some mince pies that had been baked by Mrs Claus.

The wrapping production line meant that we were finished well before the end of the session. We said goodbye to Pat and Santa feeling as festive as can be!