Youngsters enjoy free trips to the panto (From The Bolton News)

Youngsters enjoy free trips to the panto

11:14am Friday 11th December 2009

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YOUNGSTERS have been enjoying free trips to the panto, thanks to £8,000 of Lotto cash handed to a community group.

More than 100 pupils from St Catherine’s Academy and Red Lane primary schools were treated to a trip to the Albert Halls to watch Cinderella.

The community group in Breightmet, called Ambassadors, applied for the lottery grant in a bid to bring residents together.

As well as buying theatre tickets for local schools, Ambassadors also plans to spend the cash on a day trips for pensioners and a community fireworks display.

Elaine Nolan, who helped set up the group a year ago, said: “The children loved it. They joined in everything and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.”

Teachers were taken aback when they found out their pupils were being taken on a free school trip.

Year One teacher Judith Potts, from St Catherine’s Academy, said: “It was absolutely brilliant and most unexpected.

“The children had a great time and it was very well organised.”

The children were picked up from their schools in a free coach and dropped off at the Albert Halls where they watched the panto — before some of them met the stars of the show.

The young theatre-goers, aged between five and seven, even got a free goodie bag during the interval.

The Ambassadors group is now planning a fireworks display on January 9, which will be held at St Catherine’s Academy.

Mrs Nolan, aged 57, who grew up in Breightmet, said: “This current project is called Love Your Neighbour.

“It is all about bringing the community together and giving people something to look forward to.”

The group also holds a coffee morning every Monday between 10am and 12pm at Bright Meadows Children’s Centre in Greenroyd Avenue.

steven.thompson@ theboltonnews.co.uk

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