Spreading Christmas cheer with CAFT

At HBV Group, creating positive impact in our communities is at the heart of what we do. This December, our team spent a very special day volunteering at The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust (CAFT) — a magical place that gives unforgettable experiences to children facing disability, illness, and social disadvantage.

CAFT welcomes hundreds of children each Christmas, and their festive programme relies entirely on the kindness and energy of volunteers. This year, our HBV team alongside ATEL, Myerson and KN supported four school groups — around 120 children — to enjoy a safe, joyful and truly memorable Christmas visit.

Bev & Sara – chief elves for the day

Bev and Sara embraced the festive spirit in full Elf mode, guiding groups of excited children from one activity to the next. Whether it was leading them to the disco with DJ Pete, helping them toast marshmallows, or making sure they reached their Christmas dinner on time, they brought warmth, reassurance and energy throughout the day.

They were also on hand for one of the most magical moments of all — a visit to Santa himself. Watching each child’s face light up as they received their gift bag was a highlight of the day.

Jonny, Neil & Olly – keeping the campfire burning

Nothing says Christmas at the farm like a crackling fire and the smell of toasted marshmallows. Jonny, Neil and Olly took charge of building and maintaining the campfire, ensuring a steady glow all day long. Thanks to their efforts, the children could enjoy marshmallow toasting — a simple activity that sparked huge smiles, laughter and sticky fingers everywhere!

Dan & Jane – the hot chocolate heroes

After all the dancing and excitement of the disco, there’s nothing better than a warm hot chocolate. Dan and Jane stepped up magnificently, making hundreds of delicious hot chocolates to keep children (and teachers!) warm and happy. Their station quickly became one of the most popular stops of the day.

Behind the scenes: support that makes the magic possible

Alongside these standout roles, the entire HBV team supported CAFT staff with everything needed to keep the day running smoothly:

Arrival & registration – greeting children and helping them feel comfortable from the moment they arrived.
Activity support – festive crafts, fun games, the Elf Trail and more.
Lunch service – setting up dining areas, transporting food, assisting children and helping clear up afterwards.
Santa support – sorting, wrapping and allocating gift bags for each child.
Entertainment – setting up spaces, supporting children with additional needs, and even donning festive mascot costumes when needed.
Departure – making sure every child got safely back on their transport, gifts in hand and memories made.

Why CAFT matters

CAFT is more than a charity — it’s a place where children who face daily challenges get the chance to simply be children. A place filled with joy, care, and magic.

Before our visit, the CAFT team sent us a message that truly stayed with us:

“Your team will be absolutely vital in the running of activities and ensuring each and every child has a fun, safe and memorable visit. Without your team, we simply would not be able to provide Christmas visits to the 120 children who will visit each day.”

Being part of something so meaningful is a privilege. Our volunteers returned inspired, humbled and full of festive spirit.

We were also pleased donate a new vacuum cleaner for the CAFT team.

A huge thank you

To CAFT: thank you for the extraordinary work you do and for welcoming us so warmly.
To our HBV volunteers: thank you for giving your time, energy and heart to a truly special cause.
And to the children: thank you for reminding us what Christmas is really about.