We were delighted to welcome a team of ten volunteers from our friends at Gamma to help us prepare for Christmas at Prior's Court. Their generosity, enthusiasm and hard work have made a significant difference to the festive experience we are able to provide for the autistic young people with complex needs we support.

Across the day, the volunteers, bedecked in Christmas jumpers, wrapped an incredible 134 individual presents – contributing a combined 40 hours of volunteer time. The group also brought along brand-new Christmas decorations for our on-site Santa's Grotto experience next week and dining hall (ahead of Christmas Lunches also held next week), and even assembled them before leaving.

This support followed months of generosity from Gamma staff. Since November, the team have been running a Giving Tree at their Newbury office, encouraging colleagues to donate gifts. More than half of the presents wrapped on the day were donated directly by Gamma staff, totalling more than £1,000 worth of gifts. On top of this, a further £500 donation from the Gamma Charity Forum enabled us to purchase the remaining items and contribute towards our Christmas activities for the young people we support.

Aimée Kavanagh, our Corporate and Community Fundraising Lead, said: "We want to give a special thank you to Rebecca Laffan from Gamma, who organised the Giving Tree and inspired her colleagues to take part. Rebecca encouraged every member of staff to donate at least one gift – and many chose to give more than one, ensuring every young person at Prior’s Court would receive a meaningful and personalised present. Thank you everyone!"

Why Christmas activities matter

For the autistic young people with complex needs we support, Christmas can be both exciting and overwhelming. Many of the traditions we associate with this time of year involve sensory changes, unfamiliar routines and new social expectations. Specialist festive activities allow us to create a Christmas experience that is carefully adapted to each young person’s needs, supporting their wellbeing and helping them take part in seasonal moments in a way that feels safe, joyful and accessible.

The gifts donated by Gamma staff, the festive decorations, and the time spent wrapping presents all contribute to shaping these tailored experiences. They help us provide opportunities that build confidence, support communication, and create positive memories for our young people and their families.

A long-standing partnership

Gamma’s involvement with Prior’s Court stretches well beyond the Christmas period. The company have volunteered with us on numerous occasions and have taken part in fundraising initiatives, including Hike with Mike back in 2023. Their ongoing commitment means even more to us because it reflects a genuine understanding of the impact that consistent, thoughtful support can have.

We are deeply grateful to everyone at Gamma who contributed, volunteered or donated. Your kindness at this time of year helps us create meaningful, personalised celebrations for autistic young people with complex needs - celebrations that simply would not be possible without your support.

See what our other corporate partners have done to support our work

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