North Point Shopping Centre have been welcoming families with free festivities for over a decade. This year, they are expected to exceed 35,000 free visits to see Santa since starting this annual tradition in 2014! During November and December, Santa will see between 3,500 and 4,000 children, with every single one receiving a gift from him and his elves. Compared to last year, this is 15% rise, placing emphasis on the importance of providing this experience in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis.
The shopping centre is located in the heart of Bransholme, Hull, an area with high levels of deprivation but an almighty sense of community! The team at North Point understand that for many families, Christmas can be a challenging time, so they strive to provide a wonderful Christmas experience for them at no cost. With current economic hardship adding to financial struggles, their goal is to ensure that no child misses out.
North Point are now in their 11 th year of providing this FREE family-friendly event. This year has seen a beautifully bright new grotto in the style of a sparkling Christmas house, complete with a fireplace, and ‘real’ elves. Visitors have also been able to enjoy Christmas crafts, choir performances and face painting too! With other grottos in the area charging up to £20 for their experience, they have removed this cost barrier to make the event accessible to all, with no pressure for families to spend a penny.
Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE, Labour Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham commented:
“The free Christmas Grotto at North Point has brought joy to thousands of children and families in Bransholme over the years. Offering this experience completely free of charge is hugely valuable to the community particularly at a time when many families are struggling with the cost of living.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor, Gareth Byrne, of the North Carr Ward, thanked the centre as over the last 6 years his own young family have enjoyed the festivities at North Point. Living within the vicinity of the centre, Councillor Byrne has seen firsthand the joy, sense of belonging and togetherness the grotto brings to the local community, including the core memories his own family has made. He said:
“It leaves people feeling warm and excited for the weeks to come, it offers our most in need a place to celebrate with Santa without the worry of high commercial prices. It’s also our community’s grotto, a proper Bransholme tradition that will be remembered forever.”
Caroline Watson, Scheme Manager at Home-Start Hull, speaks highly of the centre’s annual tradition. Home-Start Hull is a voluntary organisation offering practical and emotional support to families living in Hull. Their expert staff and trained volunteers work alongside struggling families to give non-judgemental, compassionate and confidential support. She commented:
“At Home-Start, we see the challenges facing families in Hull every day. The rising cost of living often means families have to choose between heating and eating, with parents going without meals so that their children can eat. That is a position no one should ever be in. Over 85% of the families we support live in the most deprived areas of the city, so we know that community initiatives and the support of local businesses like North Point are essential in making Christmas magical for children who would otherwise miss out. Financial pressures continue to worsen for families so every bit of help and support is invaluable, especially at this time of year.”
To find out more about Home-Start Hull and access their services, please visit
http://homestarthull.org.uk.
FI Real Estate Management spokesperson Louise Smith added:
“We want every child to be able to see Santa no matter what. Making each and every child’s experience a magical one is so important to the team, and North Point will continue to support families for many Christmases to come.”
Make sure to follow North Point Shopping Centre on Facebook and Instagram (@northpointshoppingcentre) to stay updated with this year’s celebrations.
