Golden Years Celebrate Christmas

Our Golden Years members braved the cold weather last week to enjoy their Christmas party celebrations.

Five Christmas parties were held in venues in Barking & Dagenham for residents aged 60 + who attend the Golden Years clubs.

Members enjoyed entertainment, music and refreshments and raffles were held with prizes donated from local businesses and organisations including Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club, Golden Fish Restaurant, Ma Baker’s, Heathway Butchers and Bella Bronze.

Pat Gillman, Golden Years Manager, said of the parties ‘Our members all had a fantastic time at the parties and we were so grateful to local businesses for supporting the clubs with their kind donations towards the raffle prizes.’

The Golden Years programme was put together by DABD, with funding from the Big Lottery Fund, to tackle loneliness and isolation in the older age group in the local area.

It's party time and everyone's here,

Full of fun and Christmas cheer, 

The food is served, a great array,

Everyone's up to take it away,

All are eating so a chance for quiet,

No-one seems worried about their diet!

Our thanks to all and small gifts are presented,

No-one forgotten, all are represented,

 Time for the raffle with prizes galore,

This group has done well , we expect no more,

 And so we bid our fond farewells and make it clear,

We'll return again in the brand New Year.

- A Christmas Poem By Mavis, a member of our Golden years groups.