Better’s Chipping Norton Leisure Centre transformed for Christmas

Last year the team at Better’s Chipping Norton Leisure Centre, in partnership with local community hub The Chippy Larder, hosted "A Better Christmas" which saw many gifts and donations from the local community to help vulnerable families over the Christmas Period. 

The event is running again to support, empower and connect the people of Chipping Norton and is expected to be bigger and better than before with some locals already donating for the event on the 15th December.

The leisure centre will be transformed into a pop-up decorated Christmas Shop and families that are referred by schools, nurseries, local authorities and charities will be invited to come along and chose a gift for their children.

Local residents are encouraged to add a new gift to their shopping lists or to donate to the Chippy Larder crowdfunding page (https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thechippylarder) and gifts will be bought on their behalf.

The team at Better have kept well in touch with their community ethos over the past 18 months by volunteering regularly at The Chippy Larder throughout lockdowns, sponsoring The Chipping Norton Theatre’s fundraising event, operating the Holiday Activities and Food summer scheme, and being a hub for the successful Kit Out the Nation campaign  -  partnering the BBC.

Rizvana Poole – Town Councillor and founder of The Chippy Larder added “After the success of last year’s Christmas Gift Event, The Chippy Larder-is once again calling on our community to support those most in need. Last year we helped over 130 families with toiletries, stocking filler gifts, main presents, books and chocolates. Supported by our Community, local businesses and hosted by Chipping Norton Leisure Centre it was a magical event, that embodied our ethos of Dignity through Choice. Please support us in ensuring that once again our Community can enjoy a Better Christmas!”

The 2020 Christmas event with Rizvana Poole, Town Mayor Georgia Mazower, and Centre Manager Cameron James. The Leisure Centre team look forward to hosting the event and showcasing the importance of this community hub in Chipping Norton, West Oxfordshire.