Bulletin

It doesn’t quite feel like Christmas without the excitement of a new toy, does it? This year, why don’t you step away from your usual traditions and do something different – don’t conform to the norm trawling the shelves of Hamleys or flicking through the Argos catalogue. Get the ultimate experience and visit Pollock’s Toy Museum in the heart of Fitzrovia.

This quaint museum will take you back in time as soon as you enter, with nostalgic smells and familiar toys from your childhood patiently waiting on the antique shelves for you to visit. The faintly-lit room and old, creaky staircase is like something out of a Christmas Carol, making it the perfect place to go with kids this season to really get in the spirit!

As well as a mixed assortment of old-fashioned and once-loved wooden toys and china dolls on display, there is also a retro toy shop where you can bring a slice of tradition home with you to remind yourself of the good-old days before digital amusements took over!

Explore this one-of-a-kind toy museum, all six rooms of it, and create a new tradition for you and your children this Christmas!

If you are gearing up to entertain some guests this Christmas then here are some top tips:

Where possible, a home bar within a drawing room or a separate space away from the bulk of an evening's festivities is a wonderful late-night retreat.

Robert Soning, founder of design-led property developer Londonewcastle, believes a dedicated home bar space is a relic of the 1950s that shouldn't be lost to the 20th century. Soning says:

"If you're after a home bar or an aesthetic talking point for you and your friends to gather around then there are a few things to consider. Firstly, space, especially considering the "conservative" size of most inner-city homes. If you have the space to include a fitted bar in the kitchen or living room, ensure the scale of the furniture works in the space. However, if space is more limited, a simple bar trolley sourced from a vintage supplier such as Vinterior, 1stdibs, or even eBay, or a contemporary piece will create a similar, sociable atmosphere.

You can also think outside the box and substitute a sideboard or console table for your home bar."

Did you know there are more than 180,000 officially designated homeless people in London? In order to help this problem of homelessness in our city, 1,600 soup kitchens throughout London are dedicated to giving them support and open doors where they can get free meals, warmth and clothing.

Founded in 1986, The Whitfield Soup Kitchen on Tottenham Court Road is one of a kind because as well as providing a sense of belonging for those in need, it also offers counselling for those suffering with mental health issues. There aim was to launch the first no-appointment needed mental-health drop-in centre with the ultimate goal to set a precedent for other soup kitchens throughout the capital. Those who are homeless are less likely to be seen by the NHS or receive professional help, so this offering is extremely important and an admirable provision from the volunteers at The Whitfield Soup Kitchen, as it could be a major stepping stone into getting rough sleepers off the streets.

A few years ago, a crowdfunding page was created to help raise money to hire a professional counsellor in a campaign called ‘Saved by Soup.’ They raised a fantastic £35,000, which surpassed their goal and allowed them to put their plan into action.

Now that Christmas is upon us, it’s easy to get caught up in the festivities but it’s so important to remember those less fortunate – so why not do a good deed and donate, or better yet, volunteer!

http://amchurch.co.uk/soup-kitchen/