Festive fun on offer with festive HeadStart programme

HeadStart Wolverhampton is joining forces with local community organisations to provide a range of family-friendly activities to help get young people in the festive spirit.

Auditions took place earlier this month, with 13 acts through to the Friday’s final including a 90-year-old singing sensation. Other acts include dance groups, gymnastics, magicians and comedy performances.

On Saturday (1 December) people can enjoy a festive pantomime at the Bob Jones Community Hub at 3pm. Chaplins Pantos will be performing the children’s classic Cinderella, but with a twist – this year, Cinderella will encourage emotional resilience and promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. Tickets can be bought from the Bob Jones Community Hub for £5.

After the pantomime, families are invited to YMCA Black Country’s free festive activities at the Bob Jones Community Hub on Saturday from 5pm to 6.30pm or at the Harvest Temple Church Hall, Wolverhampton Road, on Monday 10 December from 3.30pm to 6.30pm.

Express your creativity with relaxing arts and crafts, enjoy puzzle-solving team games or take a break with mindfulness sessions. There’s also a chance to win a family festive hamper in the raffle, with other prizes including high street gift vouchers, and free mince pies for everyone on arrival.

For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01902 371562.

Also starting on Saturday is Gazebo Theatre’s Winter Wonderland at Bilston Town Hall. Parents, families and children of all ages can enjoy this magical interactive experience which will see people work together to solve puzzles and find clues to discover the true meaning of Christmas – with a little help from the Cheeky Elves and your favourite pantomime characters.

The Winter Wonderland is open every Thursday and Friday from noon to 3pm and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm until Christmas. For more information, please visit www.7905d1c4e12c54933a44d19fcd5f9356-gdprlock/GazeboTheatre.

HeadStart Wolverhampton, part of a £56m National Lottery funded programme set-up by Big Lottery Fund, is designed to improve the emotional mental health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 10 to 16 by giving them the skills they need to cope with the challenges of modern life.

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said “We are pleased to be working with local organisations to provide a wonderful programme of Christmas events.

“There’s plenty to get you in the festive mood, as well as supporting the emotional wellbeing of our young people.”

As well as running a series of specific programmes in its four key target areas, HeadStart Wolverhampton offers city-wide help through a Support and Guidance Directory at http://support.headstartonline.co.uk which provides emotional mental health and wellbeing resources from different organisations, including information targeted at young people, parents and carers, and professionals.