Key Points
- Party & Play Funhouse, located in Wingates, Westhoughton, is hosting a charity event on Thursday, 27 November 2025, offering one hour of free playtime for children in exchange for food or toy donations valued at a minimum of £5 per child.
- All donations support Westhoughton Community Assist Service (also referred to as Westhoughton Assist Service) to aid families in need during the Christmas period.
- The event runs from 3:30pm, allowing families to enjoy soft play facilities while contributing to local food poverty relief efforts.
- Donations must be new items, such as food or toys, to ensure suitability for distribution to those facing hardship this festive season.
- The initiative is branded as the "Play It Forward Charity Event," emphasising community giving and festive market stalls alongside the play sessions.
- Similar local charity activities in Westhoughton, like a Christmas lunch at Brookfield Hall, highlight broader community support networks, though unrelated to this play centre event.
Party & Play Funhouse in Wingates, Westhoughton, launches a timely Christmas charity drive today, 27 November 2025, where families can secure a free one-hour children's play session by donating food or toys worth at least £5 per child, with all proceeds aiding the Westhoughton Community Assist Service amid rising seasonal needs. This soft play centre's gesture underscores local business efforts to combat food insecurity, inviting residents to combine fun with philanthropy on this Thursday afternoon.
What Is the Party & Play Funhouse Charity Event?
As detailed on the official Party & Play Funhouse charity page, the "Play It Forward Charity Event" invites visitors to enjoy one hour of free play upon donating new toys or food to support Westhoughton Assist Service. The Instagram announcement from Party & Play Funhouse specifies:
"FREE 1-HOUR PLAY SESSION THIS THURSDAY! ... toy or food donation (minimum value £5) Come along on Thursday 27th November, 3:30pm ...".
Yahoo UK News reports that
"Anyone bringing food or a toy donation worth at least £5 per child receives an hour of free playtime. All the items go to Westhoughton Community ...".
This structured offer ensures donations are impactful for local families facing challenges during Christmas.
Another Instagram reel from the venue elaborates: "... Party and Play Funhouse. It's our Christmas charity event. Here's how it works. You bring along a food or toy donation. Something new and ...". Party & Play Funhouse further clarified in a prior post:
"To enjoy 1 hour of free playtime, simply bring a donation of food or toys with a minimum value of £5 per child. Please ensure your donation ...".
These statements from the business itself highlight the event's focus on new, usable items to maximise aid distribution.
When and Where Is the Free Play Session Happening?
The event occurs today, Thursday 27 November 2025, starting at 3:30pm at Party & Play Funhouse in Wingates, Westhoughton. A Facebook post in a local group states:
"Message from Party&Play funhouse Please Share @ ... All donations go towards Westhoughton Assist Service to support families in our community during the festive season of giving! Come have fun and ...".
This timing aligns with after-school hours, making it accessible for working parents.
Yahoo UK News confirms the location as a popular soft play centre in Westhoughton, noting its appeal to local families. An Instagram reel reinforces:
"CHARITY EVENT Free Admission ... How to participate? To enjoy 1 hour of free playtime, simply bring a donation of food or toys with a minimum value of £5 per child. Please ...".
Wingates' community setting positions the funhouse as a hub for such initiatives.
Which Charity Benefits from the Donations?
All collected food and toys go directly to Westhoughton Assist Service, aimed at supporting vulnerable families over Christmas. The venue's charity page explicitly states:
"Join our Play It Forward Charity Event! Enjoy 1 hour of free play when you donate new toys or food to support Westhoughton Assist Service.".
A Bolton Bulletin Board Facebook group post echoes:
"Free Admission Charity Event Enjoy free play, browse our festive market stalls, and support our community at the same time Secure your spot: ..."
linking to Westhoughton efforts.
This service addresses food poverty in the area, complementing broader networks like Booths supermarkets' year-round donation points, though not directly tied. Party & Play Funhouse's Instagram posts consistently name Westhoughton Assist Service as the beneficiary, ensuring transparency.
Why Is This Initiative Happening Now?
With Christmas approaching, the event tackles heightened demand on food banks, as noted in Yahoo UK News coverage of the play centre's response to community needs. Party & Play Funhouse announced on Instagram:
"Party and Play Funhouse are excited to give back to the ...",
framing it as a festive giveback. The "festive season of giving" is emphasised in a Facebook group message:
"All donations go towards Westhoughton Assist Service to support families in our community during the festive season of giving!".
This timing reflects seasonal pressures on local charities, similar to a sold-out Christmas lunch at Brookfield Hall in Westhoughton hosted by Maura Jackson for Backup Charity & Get up keep going CIC on the same date, though separate. The funhouse's effort promotes joy alongside aid.
How Can Families Participate in the Event?
Participation requires bringing a new food or toy donation valued at least £5 per child for a free one-hour session, as per multiple venue posts. An Instagram reel instructs:
"You bring along a food or toy donation. Something new and ...".
No advance booking is mentioned; attendees simply arrive from 3:30pm with items.
A Facebook announcement adds festive elements:
"Enjoy free play, browse our festive market stalls, and support our community".
Donations should suit food bank needs, like non-perishables, aligning with general guidelines from partners such as Booths.
What Makes Party & Play Funhouse a Community Favourite?
As a popular soft play centre, it draws families for safe, engaging play, now enhanced by charity. The event builds on prior goodwill, with announcements generating buzz across Instagram and Facebook. This positions Wingates as a supportive locale.
Broader Context of Local Charity Efforts
Westhoughton's initiatives, including the funhouse event, mirror regional responses to need, with Booths listing items like pasta, cereals, and baby products for donation points. The Brookfield Hall lunch features
"2 Course Lunch * 10 Christmas shopping stalls * Raffles & Entertainment,"
raising funds differently. Party & Play Funhouse's model uniquely blends recreation with relief.