TWO award-winning local charities celebrated reaching milestone ages by holding a tea party with a twist.

Halliwell Befriending Society (HBS) and Hafway young people’s charity teamed up to celebrate their 25th and 20th years with afternoon tea and gin and tonic.

Both charities share St Paul’s Community Centre where the event was held for 70 guests from the local area.

Chair of Hafway Sue Pilling hailed the event a success and said: “The young people ran and organised it all themselves and there was a brilliant atmosphere. There was a really good number of people and we even had to restrict it this time.”

Hafway engages over 200 11-18-year-olds by offering mentoring and skills sessions in activities such as cookery and sports, while HBS provides support to combat loneliness of isolated and vulnerable people in Halliwell.

They offer craft sessions and weekly coffee mornings to encourage people to be more sociable.

The organisers gave responsibility to Hafway’s young people who had the chance to develop their teamwork and communication skills in a working environment.

Mrs Pilling added: “An enormous Thankyou to everyone who supported Hafway and Halliwell Befriending Society’s Gin &Tonic afternoon tea. Thanks also to the Hafway Young People and the many volunteers who worked so hard to make this joint event possible.”

Both charities have won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.