Home-Start's Big Tea Party - in pictures and words

Catch up with some of the Big Tea Parties held around the UK since 2005.

photo courtesy of the
Worcester News

Four year-old Jade helping at the Big Tea Party at the Cafe Vienna in Worcester. Home-Start Worcester recruited new volunteers and found new families to support at the event, as well as raising around £70 to keep their work going. The scheme also ran a coffee morning attended by the Mayor of Worcester.

Staff and children at Pinfold Gate Day Nursery in Loughborough raised money for Home-Start Charnwood with their Big Tea Party. Their Mad Hatters Tea Party theme saw children, families and staff parading in their own hats as they raised £108 for the charity.

photo courtesy of the
Scunthorpe Telegraph

Kristeen Pranter, Debbie Shipley, Norman Williamson, Margaret Berry and Karen Dean having a Mad Hatter's Tea Party at Sainsbury's in Scunthorpe. Sainsbury's staff Teresa Kirkpatrick and Sylvia Cursley joined in the fun.

Alanya models the Home-Start North Devon big tea pot. The costume was later worn by adults (who shall remain nameless - Sonya and Jok!) to raise money and awareness at Sainsbury's.

photo courtesy of the
Whitchurch Herald

Face painting, bouncy castles, crafts, a barbeque and fancy dress were the order of the day at Home-Start Whitchurch's Big Tea Party. The Lord Mayor dressed up as the Mad Hatter. The event was organised by Whitchurch Town Council and Home-Start.

The director of Policy, Planning and Practice and the Information Officer, from Home-Start UK - otherwise known as Sue and Mel - get busy at the Home-Start Royston Big Tea Party. They doubled their dedication to the cause by also going to the Home-Start UK Big Tea Party quiz and auction, held in Leicester a week or so later.

photo courtesy of the
Exeter Express and Echo

Mad Hatters from Home-Start Exeter raising awareness and funds in Sainsbury's in the Guildhall. In real life they are highly trained volunteers who support parents with under-5s. They are, from left: Ray Luxton as the Mad Hatter, Abbey Kirtley as Alice, Marie Lavelle as the cook, and Pauline Broom as the White Rabbit.

Children having their own mini tea party during Home-Start Spelthorne's own Big Tea Party. The Mayor, who came too, got right into the spirit of things: ignoring her immaculate manicure to use the play dough and rolling pins.

Jerome, Charles, twins: Caroline & Stephanie and Marcia getting into the spirit of of the Big Tea Party. The manager of Sainsbury's Forestside in Belfast, Nathan Portess, had arranged for the fundraising face painting to take place right in the middle of the shop, during Home-Start's bag packing sessions, "ensuring our admiring public had to admire us as they squeezed past," said Eelco, the East Belfast Home-Start organiser.

Ladies doing their bit to support Home-Start Congleton. Their Big Tea Party was one of many hundreds of Big Tea Parties organised by individual members of the public and Home-Start Schemes across the UK in September.

Did you have a Big Tea Party? Send us your digital photos with a description of who is in them and what they are doing, and we'll try to publish them here.

Find out lots more about how Sainsbury's supported Home-Start in 2005

Home-Start's Big Tea Party - in pictures and words

Catch up with some of the Big Tea Parties held around the UK since 2005.

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