For the first time, Stirling Council staff from the Riverbank Resource Centre, social care services team and Riverside Primary School will join local residents to create a ‘living advent calendar’ to add some festive cheer to the dark winter nights.
The idea is to give communities a way to get involved in festive celebrations by having a new window display being lit up each evening of the advent month for all to enjoy.
Organiser Fiona Dyet said: “I read about the idea a couple of years ago and thought at the time that Riverside would be an ideal area for it. It originated in Scandinavia where nights are even darker than here, and is about bringing more light to Riverside throughout the dark midwinter month of December, to celebrate winter together as a community. Windows will be illuminated with a festive scene, with one scene being ‘opened’ daily from 1st of December 2016 until 1st January 2017. There may also be opportunities to enjoy mince pies and mulled wine together - very 'Hygge' as they say in Denmark!”
Riverbank Community Centre for adults with complex and profound needs have started work already, with service users and staff getting involved in creating a window display for the 1st of December which members of the public are welcome to attend and share some warm drinks and conversation.
Heather Fleming, Day Support Services Team Leader at the Riverbank Centre, said: “We are delighted to be part of this and extend a warm welcome for people in the local community to join us on Thursday 1st Dec 2016 from 2.30pm for a tea/coffee and a mince pie to celebrate the ‘opening’ of our festive scene.”
Riverside Primary pupils are working on not one, but two displays that will be revealed on the 6th and 13th of December. Headteacher Kay Robertson said: “We are delighted to be taking part in Riverside's first Living Advent Calendar this year and look forward to unveiling our windows as part of this community project.”
Julie Gallagher, Team Leader for Reablement & Technology Enabled Care (TEC) at Stirling Council, said: “Our team provide vital social care services across the Council area 24/7, 365 days of the year, helping to ensure people can remain in their own homes. We will be lighting up the Cottage building next to the primary school on Christmas Day.”
Dates/Locations for the advent are:
1st December – Riverbank Centre
2nd December – 10 Ronald Place
3rd December – 19 Forth Crescent
4th December – 19 Argyll Avenue
5th December – 26 Forth Crescent
6th December – Riverside Primary School
7th December – 1 Queenshaugh Drive
8th December – 18 Forth Crescent
9th December – 17 Argyll Avenue
10th December – 20 Millar Place
11th December – 15 Argyll Avenue
12th December – 27 Forth Place
13th December – Riverside Primary School
14th December – 11 Millar Place
15th December – 7 Forrest Road
16th December – 41 Millar Place
17th December – 24 Forth Crescent
18th December – 16 Forth Crescent
19th December – 21 Argyll Avenue
20th December – 16 Millar Place
21st December – 11 Argyll Avenue
22nd December – 23 Argyll Avenue
23rd December – 25 Millar Place
24th December – ‘Cairnforth’ Alexandra Place
25th December – The Cottage, Forest Road
26th December – 10 Millar Place
27th December – 20 Alexandra Place
28th December – 23 Argyll Avenue
29th December – Sutherland Avenue
30th December – 17 Millar Place
31st December – 6a Rosebery Place
1st January – 6 Rosebery Place