Becky adores Christmas, but visiting a High Street grotto was never possible for her. When her school visited the fully accessible Grotto at Woodlarks, she stepped into a world of twinkling magic — and for the first time, truly felt part of the Christmas story.
Becky is a 10-year-old girl who has complex needs arising from a rare genetic condition. Christmas is her favourite time of year… she loves the sparkle, the colours, the lights… she even loves the carols and the cheesy Christmas hits… she tries to hum along, but somewhere between her thoughts and her voice, those tunes become screechy…
Becky knows that some of her friends at school have actually met Father Christmas… but Becky’s mum says they’d never be able to visit him on the High Street… wheelchair access is always tricky… and whilst Becky’s mum knows that Becky screams when she is happy or excited, not everyone understands… and it might frighten other children…
Becky’s school was offered the chance to send a group of pupils to meet Father Christmas in his Grotto at Woodlarks Campsite, a fully accessible campsite with great facilities… and Becky found herself in an astonishing twinkly, magical Christmas Grotto that was truly beyond her wildest dreams…
The best bit of Becky’s day was not only meeting Father Christmas, though that was awesome enough… but receiving her special gift from a cheery young elf in a powered wheelchair… Becky felt like she really belonged in this Christmas story…
It is so uplifting to hear that Woodlarks’ commitment to being inclusive gave Becky a genuine sense of belonging… helping to blur the boundaries between who is ‘the helper’ and who are ‘the helped’… a Christmas wish come true…
Becky knows that some of her friends at school have actually met Father Christmas… but Becky’s mum says they’d never be able to visit him on the High Street… wheelchair access is always tricky… and whilst Becky’s mum knows that Becky screams when she is happy or excited, not everyone understands… and it might frighten other children…
Becky’s school was offered the chance to send a group of pupils to meet Father Christmas in his Grotto at Woodlarks Campsite, a fully accessible campsite with great facilities… and Becky found herself in an astonishing twinkly, magical Christmas Grotto that was truly beyond her wildest dreams…
The best bit of Becky’s day was not only meeting Father Christmas, though that was awesome enough… but receiving her special gift from a cheery young elf in a powered wheelchair… Becky felt like she really belonged in this Christmas story…
It is so uplifting to hear that Woodlarks’ commitment to being inclusive gave Becky a genuine sense of belonging… helping to blur the boundaries between who is ‘the helper’ and who are ‘the helped’… a Christmas wish come true…