Up to 120 local children will be having a fun and festive time at the eleventh annual kids’ Christmas party organised by Bristol University’s Student Community Action (SCA) on Saturday, 3 December.

The party, for four- to 12-year-olds from areas including Hartcliffe, Knowle, Southmead, Avonmouth and St Paul’s, will take place at Churchill Hall,  Stoke Bishop, from 2 to 5 pm.

Entertainment will be in abundance, with party games, bouncy castle, karaoke, fire engine, police car and, of course, Father Christmas in his grotto giving out presents.   The children will also have the opportunity to see a magician.

A tea party, with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, will round off the afternoon and each child will receive a goodie bag.  All of the children and the 100 volunteer helpers will be wearing a special T-shirt, designed by one of the children attending the party.

Kate Howell, SCA Co-ordinator, said: “There are many more young children in Bristol than SCA can support through its many year-round projects.  This is our way of reaching out to more of them and making their Christmas extra special.

“SCA has 850 volunteers in total, working on projects from a night shelter for the homeless to a day centre for the elderly, to helping out in local schools and much, much more.

“It’s great that students want to give up their time and become involved in the community while they are studying at Bristol.  Students learn much-needed employability skills through volunteering and the local community benefits greatly from the help from the students.”