Christmas trail created around Northampton neighbourhood to give families 'something fun to do'

A parent-teacher association has joined forces with local residents to create a festive trail for families to enjoy this Christmas.

Friends of Bridgewater Primary School usually runs events throughout the year to raise money to benefit the children who attend the Abington-based school.

Due to the pandemic, most of the group’s fundraisers, including their biggest earner - the Christmas fair, have been unable to go ahead.

Instead, the parent-led group teamed up with residents around Bridgewater Drive to create a Christmas trail, where participants have to find clues in windows and front gardens to solve an anagram.

Friends of Bridgewater secretary, Alison Hemmings-Buckler, said: “We usually have a big Christmas fair and it’s one of our main fundraisers.

“Obviously we couldn’t do it this year, but we didn’t want to abandon it completely.

“The trail started out as something small and then residents got involved too.

“It’s a nice opportunity to do something positive within the community.”

Anyone who takes part in the trail will receive a map directing them to each home where a letter is displayed.

The 20 letters available to find will create a festive phrase, which can be submitted online to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

Alison added: “We wanted to have a little prize, but we aren’t charging much for the maps as we wanted it to be accessible and inclusive, so we managed to get local sponsors.

“First prize will be a voucher for £50 at a local restaurant or takeaway of their choice and second and third prizes will be £10 book tokens.

“A local printing company also offered to do the signs for free as well, so it has really all come together.”

To make the event Covid-safe and to avoid crowds, maps must be bought online and are allocated into hour-long slots from tomorrow (December 11) to December 20.

Organisers expect the trail to take around an hour walking with children.

So far, more than 100 tickets have already been sold, which Alison and the team are really pleased about.

“I think people are feeling that this Christmas is going to be different,” she continued.

“They can’t do what they would normally do.

“The trail is low key but it’s a nice opportunity to get out and see Christmas lights and be with family.”

Although the trail was meant to be 'something fun to do' rather than a big fundraiser, it has already raised £250, of which 100 percent will go back into the school.

To buy a map, priced at £2.50 per map, visit the event website.Phrases must be submitted online by December 22 and three winners will be selected at random to with winners announced on Christmas Eve.

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