Christmas Candyland brings good cheer to the community

New City College joined local businesses to create a festive community event – attended by special guests, The Grinch and Father Christmas!

Students and staff at the college helped to create the Christmas Candyland grotto and took to the streets as Santa’s Elves to sprinkle a little magic in the centre of Collier Row in Havering.

An army of students helped wrap sackfuls of presents that were given out free to over 1,000 excited children when the grotto opened at headline sponsors The Chigwell Group’s Chigwell Window Centre in Chase Cross Road.

Art and Design students based at NCC’s campus in Ardleigh Green Road, Hornchurch, designed and created life-size props and decorations to transform the shop into a candy-inspired wonderland.

Performing Arts students sang and danced as the Elves, entertaining families as they queued for the chance to see Santa in his grotto.

Ella Rayment of the Collier Row Community Group, who helped organise the event, said: “New City College should be very proud to have contributed to something so special for the local community. It was definitely needed this year to boost spirits and the students helped create that extra little bit of magic that we all needed.”

Local families took to Facebook, with one commenting: “We had a wonderful time. Well done to everyone involved, but the Elves (students) were especially fantastic – they got my shy kids chatting away and they even had a dance!”

Another said: “The queue for Santa’s grotto was very long, but the Elves were constantly walking up and down and entertaining the kids which was amazing. They did a great job – all in all a fantastic thing for the community!”

The event was free and took place on Friday 3rd December.