Celebrating community: Festive spirit shines at Laindon Christmas gathering

Two much-loved community groups came together at the King Edward Community Centre (KECC) in Laindon in Basildon, Essex, for a joyful Christmas meal.
Around 40 people from the Community Cuppa & KECC Knit & Natter groups joined the lively gathering on the evening of Friday 12 December. Guests enjoyed a delicious three course Christmas meal. A live singer performed festive songs to add to the atmosphere and there was plenty of entertainment with a quiz, bingo and secret Santa.
Colleagues from not-for-profit housing association Peabody hosted the meal with support from the Friends of King Edward group.
It was a chance for Peabody to say thank you to the community group volunteers for all their hard work throughout the year.
Community Cuppa is run by a small group of local volunteers who give their time to run activities that help people in the neighbourhood feel more connected. Every week, they host a mix of talks, workshops, activities and games at the community centre. This includes bingo, historical talks, poetry sessions, craft workshops and holiday celebrations. They work closely with local groups, small businesses and community partners to make sure there’s always something welcoming, meaningful and fun on offer for local residents.
Knit & Natter, who meet weekly at the KECC, are an inclusive knitting group open to all ages and abilities. They take part in lots of community and charity knitting projects both locally, nationally & internationally; from Remembrance Day poppies to working in collaboration with Kinder Essex for their Hug in a shrug project. They also make worry worms for local schools and items for hospices & hospitals.
Pip from the KECC Knit & Natter Group said:
“I really enjoyed the evening. It felt warm and relaxed. Our group meets regularly at the centre, and it means a lot to us all. We support each other and we always have a good laugh too.”
Ella, Management Committee Lead at Peabody, said: “The evening was all about appreciation. These groups are run by volunteers who offer so much for those who visit this community centre. It felt good to sit together, share a meal, and show how much they mean to this community.”