A Taste of Christmas for Radius Tenants

This week Radius Housing will plate up 3000 Christmas dinners for tenants in their sheltered schemes, in what has been dubbed ‘Operation Christmas’. Radius is delivering hot meals of turkey and all the trimmings, which will help kick off the festive season their 110 sheltered schemes in 80 towns over Northern Ireland, including tenants of Iverna Fold.

This year, as well as the traditional Turkey and Ham, tenants will have festive messages from local primary schools who have decorated baubles and Christmas decorations to brighten up their homes, as well as delivering Christmas Cards to tenants.

Christmas in Radius schemes would usually be a hive of Christmas parties and social events, but the Covid restrictions and need to follow public health guidelines to keep everyone safe mean less socialising this year, which is why Radius has launched Operation Christmas, to bring a hot meal and festive cheer to sheltered housing tenants. Staff have also organised music, crafts and quizzes for tenants to enjoy and relax into the spirit of Christmas.

Speaking from Iverna Fold, off the Donegal Road in South Belfast, Radius Director of Communities, Loma Wilson said “Everyone has their own favourite part of Christmas, be it the trees and decorations, or the gifts. For many it’s the traditional Christmas dinner - turkey and stuffing, ham, roast potatoes, even brussel sprouts - and that is why we are bringing a lovely festive meal to over 3,000 tenants as part of operation Christmas this week.

“It has not been an easy year, and it may not be back to a ‘normal’ Christmas, but that does not mean we can’t do the little things to bring some seasonal joy to our tenants. Radius staff have been working hard to create a festive spirit, and we hope that our tenants can enjoy their meal and some Christmas cheer this week.”

Donna Hanna, scheme co-ordinator at Iverna Fold added “It’s been a tough time for us all over the past couple of years, and it’s important that our tenants have something to smile about. Providing a Christmas dinner and some celebrations are great to lift the spirits here and make it a bit more festive.”

For more information on the work of Radius Housing, visit www.radiushousing.org or you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook at @RadiusHousing.

ENDS

Further information:

Brendan Scott

MW Advocate

brendan.scott@mwadvocate.com

028 9026 7072

07834422923