East Midlands Airport (EMA) is spreading some Yuletide cheer among its surrounding communities, with a number of activities planned in the weeks ahead.
All year round, the airport plays an active role in the towns and villages most affected by its operations, awarding £533,289 in grants for local groups and projects, providing 130 engagement opportunities, and contributing 3,427 hours of local volunteering by colleagues over the past year.
In the run-up to Christmas, this neighbourly approach involves providing gifts, volunteers, and even arranging visits from Santa for local communities. Already, EMA has gifted 190 tickets to the ‘Snow White’ pantomime at Loughborough Town Hall to families from Cobden Primary School in Loughborough. On the day of the performance (Saturday, 30 November), Santa handed out gifts to all the children, making the day even more magical.
Airport volunteers also joined One Kegworth volunteers a week earlier to create a fabulous festive experience for over-75-year-olds living in Kegworth. This event, partly funded by EMA through a grant to One Kegworth from the airport’s Community Sponsorship Fund, treated guests to afternoon tea and entertainment at the Yew Lodge in Kegworth. At the end of the event, guests received goody bags provided by EMA. This Sunday (8 December), volunteers will again join One Kegworth volunteers to put together and deliver Christmas hampers to all over-75-year-olds in Kegworth who were unable to attend the Christmas tea party.
Santa and his elves will also be arriving in an airport fire engine at several schools with chocolate treats for the children. The visits are scheduled for Cobden Primary in Loughborough on Monday, 9 December; Kegworth Primary School on Thursday, 12 December; and Brackenfield SEN School in Long Eaton on Friday, 13 December.
As always, EMA has lit up its Air Traffic Control tower with festive messages, placed its Christmas tree in front of the terminal, and decorated the check-in hall with Christmas decorations.
EMA’s Managing Director, Steve Griffiths, said:
“We love Christmas at the airport, and our staff, who give customers a warm welcome all year round, are always keen to volunteer for our programme of Christmas activities.
“Children and elderly people in local communities will benefit from gifts and visits from Santa and his helpers, while our decorations at the airport will help customers taking breaks over the festive season to get into the Christmas spirit.”
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