Mission Christmas raises £1,960 for Strode Park Foundation

We are delighted to share that our sold-out Mission Christmas event at Strode Park House was a huge success, raising an incredible £1,960 to support people with disabilities.

Families enjoyed a magical start to the Christmas season with a wide variety of activities, entertainment, and seasonal treats throughout the grounds of Strode Park House.

Father Christmas met visitors in his grotto, and real-life reindeer joined us in the morning. Festive games, such as ‘Knock the Elf off the Shelf’ and ‘Spin to Win’, proved especially popular, with lots of incredible prizes being won, kindly donated by Cain’s Amusements and iFun Family Entertainment Centre. The craft room was a big hit, with visitors creating their very own sock snowmen and decorating bauble biscuits.

Throughout the day, The Useless Pluckers provided fantastic live music, adding to the Christmas magic. Inside the market, visitors browsed stalls from local businesses, selling artwork, jewellery, woodcrafts, and handpicked items from Strode Park Foundation charity shop. An exciting selection of raffle prizes, kindly donated by local businesses, was proudly displayed and attracted plenty of attention.

The dedicated café team were kept busy as guests warmed up with hot chocolate and enjoyed festive cakes. Smokey Joe’s served delicious hot food and non-alcoholic mulled wine, while Cabin FM set the tone of the day with upbeat Christmas tunes. Children also enjoyed a funfair ride, and many families stopped to take photos beside Santa’s sleigh, kindly provided by the Herne Bay Rotary Club.

We were honoured to welcome the Lord Mayor of Canterbury to Mission Christmas, who shared, “Strode Park is a place where beautiful memories are created for residents. Every activity is thoughtfully planned, always putting the residents at the very centre of everything they do. It was an honour to meet Nathan and Kathleen during my visit.”

We would like to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, donated prizes, or supported the event in any way. Your enthusiasm and generosity helped make Mission Christmas 2025 an unforgettable event.
We look forward to welcoming you back for more festive fun next year!