This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/dec/25/kids-ompany-christmas-party-the-oval

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Kids Company’s Christmas party feeds thousands at The Oval Kids Company’s Christmas party feeds thousands at The Oval
(about 20 hours later)
Thousands of underprivileged guests poured into The Oval cricket ground in south London on Christmas Day.Thousands of underprivileged guests poured into The Oval cricket ground in south London on Christmas Day.
They came from some of London’s poorest homes and were invited to tuck into turkey, basmati rice, brussels sprouts and stuffing in a dining room with a view of the famous pitch.They came from some of London’s poorest homes and were invited to tuck into turkey, basmati rice, brussels sprouts and stuffing in a dining room with a view of the famous pitch.
John, 40 and Mary, 35, were there with their two children. They were just finishing lunch after arriving at 11am.John, 40 and Mary, 35, were there with their two children. They were just finishing lunch after arriving at 11am.
John was working in security until he resigned in February, saying he had been intimidated. Finding it hard to make ends meet without a job, they had sought help from the charity Kids Company, which helped them out with food vouchers.John was working in security until he resigned in February, saying he had been intimidated. Finding it hard to make ends meet without a job, they had sought help from the charity Kids Company, which helped them out with food vouchers.
“Without their help, life would have been terrible,” said John. “Today we’ve been around people, socialising. It makes you happy, we’ve been overwhelmed.”“Without their help, life would have been terrible,” said John. “Today we’ve been around people, socialising. It makes you happy, we’ve been overwhelmed.”
At another table, Alan and Kevin, two cousins, aged 16 and 15, had just finished their turkey with jollof rice. They clearly preferred to be at The Oval than at home.At another table, Alan and Kevin, two cousins, aged 16 and 15, had just finished their turkey with jollof rice. They clearly preferred to be at The Oval than at home.
“There is a variety of things to do here, there is lots of joy and laughter,” said Alan. “Afterwards we’ll play football and basketball and go the cinema. As part of the festivities Kids Company has organised not only games, but a disco, where the music was already blaring, and a showing of the Disney hit film, Frozen.“There is a variety of things to do here, there is lots of joy and laughter,” said Alan. “Afterwards we’ll play football and basketball and go the cinema. As part of the festivities Kids Company has organised not only games, but a disco, where the music was already blaring, and a showing of the Disney hit film, Frozen.
Outside the dining room, where dozens of volunteers were dishing out hot food, hundreds of people stood patiently in the stairwell waiting their turn, as small children scampered in and out of the adults’ legs.Outside the dining room, where dozens of volunteers were dishing out hot food, hundreds of people stood patiently in the stairwell waiting their turn, as small children scampered in and out of the adults’ legs.
In a games room downstairs, toddlers and children frolicked on a bouncy castle, others played on small table-tennis tables, supervised by volunteers in pink T-shirts. Martha Ngozi, 39, had brought her three children. Cradling her nine-month-old child, she spoke about finding it hard to clothe and feed her family on her low wages preparing food for hospital patients.In a games room downstairs, toddlers and children frolicked on a bouncy castle, others played on small table-tennis tables, supervised by volunteers in pink T-shirts. Martha Ngozi, 39, had brought her three children. Cradling her nine-month-old child, she spoke about finding it hard to clothe and feed her family on her low wages preparing food for hospital patients.
“The last two years have been difficult. I am not on benefits, but with the money I make, it’s not enough to sort things out. It has been hard paying the rent and buying warm clothes and toys for the kids,” she said, pointing to two children’s coats that had been given to her by Kids Company. “The last two years have been difficult. I am not on benefits, but with the money I make, it’s not enough to sort things out. It has been hard paying the rent and buying warm clothes and toys for the kids,” she said, pointing to two children’s coats that had been given to her by Kids Company.
This is the third year that Kids Company has thrown its Christmas party at The Oval. What began as a party for a few hundred people has mushroomed into a giant logistical exercise feeding 4,000. What began as a party for a few hundred people a decade ago has mushroomed into a giant logistical exercise feeding 4,000.
Cars have to be arranged to come and drop people off at the grounds – there is a huge traffic jam outside the Alec Stewart gate. Cooking begins four days before the event, with food donated by various companies.Cars have to be arranged to come and drop people off at the grounds – there is a huge traffic jam outside the Alec Stewart gate. Cooking begins four days before the event, with food donated by various companies.
This year, the event needed 30 pre-cooked turkeys, 202kg of roast potatoes, 322kg of basmati rice, 4,000 bags of crisps, 52kg of stuffing, 52kg of frozen parsnips, 78kg of pasta and 1,500 mince pies.This year, the event needed 30 pre-cooked turkeys, 202kg of roast potatoes, 322kg of basmati rice, 4,000 bags of crisps, 52kg of stuffing, 52kg of frozen parsnips, 78kg of pasta and 1,500 mince pies.
Besides the 4,000 Christmas lunches, the families who come are given 2,100 “family bags” containing items such as blankets as well as food packs to take away. On top of that, volunteers distributed emergency food parcels to a further 12,000 vulnerable people.Besides the 4,000 Christmas lunches, the families who come are given 2,100 “family bags” containing items such as blankets as well as food packs to take away. On top of that, volunteers distributed emergency food parcels to a further 12,000 vulnerable people.
Before the Christmas period 2,000 volunteers help to wrap presents for the children as the charity’s head office is transformed into a Santa’s grotto. More than 320 volunteers give up their Christmas Day and Boxing Day to help at the party.Before the Christmas period 2,000 volunteers help to wrap presents for the children as the charity’s head office is transformed into a Santa’s grotto. More than 320 volunteers give up their Christmas Day and Boxing Day to help at the party.
Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder and chief executive of Kids Company, said the idea behind the party was to help desperate people at Christmas.Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder and chief executive of Kids Company, said the idea behind the party was to help desperate people at Christmas.
“I started this 10 or 11 years ago because kids were attempting suicide, they were so lonely. We needed to have something open for them to give something to look forward to. Initially, the event was for 400 people at our centre. Then we moved to a secondary school and we had to move again as it’s grown so much.”“I started this 10 or 11 years ago because kids were attempting suicide, they were so lonely. We needed to have something open for them to give something to look forward to. Initially, the event was for 400 people at our centre. Then we moved to a secondary school and we had to move again as it’s grown so much.”
Batmanghelidjh, who is dressed up in flowing robes made from donated material, receives as many guests as she can at Santa’s Grotto, a small tent festooned with decorations.Batmanghelidjh, who is dressed up in flowing robes made from donated material, receives as many guests as she can at Santa’s Grotto, a small tent festooned with decorations.
“These are desperate people who don’t know when their next meal is coming from,” she said. “It is festive with an edge, as the people here are filled with desperation and high anxiety. The ones who are here on Christmas Day are the most vulnerable. Everyone here has got very serious issues.”“These are desperate people who don’t know when their next meal is coming from,” she said. “It is festive with an edge, as the people here are filled with desperation and high anxiety. The ones who are here on Christmas Day are the most vulnerable. Everyone here has got very serious issues.”
Some of the names have been changedSome of the names have been changed