A real Christmas treat to put smiles on these young faces

Published: 12:23 AM December 24, 2009 Updated: 1:27 PM October 14, 2020

Climbing the hill from Swiss Cottage to Hampstead village was a nightmare on Monday night in the thickening snow, but a delight just 24 hours later. Along with deputy editor Laura Evans and reporter Susanna Wilkey, I boarded the 268 – not an option the

Climbing the hill from Swiss Cottage to Hampstead village was a nightmare on Monday night in the thickening snow, but a delight just 24 hours later.

Along with deputy editor Laura Evans and reporter Susanna Wilkey, I boarded the 268 - not an option the previous evening - and made the short journey to the Hampstead branch of Barclays for this year's Christmas Cheer awards.

What made it such a joy was the delight on the faces of children from Hollickwood School in Muswell Hill, the Haringey Shed theatre company and the Highgate Harriers as their organisations received cheques for special projects.

The reactions on young faces as they stepped up to receive their grants was truly heartwarming and the perfect antidote to the wintry chills outside.

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Hollickwood, once threatened with closure, is now thriving and their �500 grant will help provide a more child-friendly playspace, while Haringey Shed's �500 could pay for a special needs support worker for youth theatre workshops or perhaps buy the costumes for an entire production. A delightful young lady by the name of Sarah Merriman accepted the award and it was a real pleasure to meet her.

The young Highgate Harriers accepted a �1,000 cheque amid promises of crowning their athletics careers with Olympic Games medals. Such is their level of confidence and optimism that I wouldn't be at all surprised.