The North Pole Bash with Variety, the Children’s Charity
We are excited to announce that Variety, the Children’s Charity, has gifted CLAPA 30 places for children and young people (aged 6-13 years) born with a cleft to attend their North Pole Bash this November.
Variety, the Children’s Charity, is inviting 250 children from around the UK with support needs to enjoy a festive trip with exclusive use of Gulliver’s Word Theme Parks, thanks to the generosity of Michael Josephson MBE and Lumistella Company, home to Elf on The Shelf. We have been lucky enough to receive 30 of these places to gift to our community.
Lucky attendees will be treated to entry to one of two Gulliver’s Theme Park locations for the North Pole Bash where they will get to meet Elf on the Shelf, watch a pantomime show, visit Father Christmas in his Grotto and receive a special toy. A complimentary lunch will also be supplied. Please note that not all park rides will be open but many suitable rides will be available.
When and Where?
Thursday 14th November at Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park in Rotherham
Tuesday 19th November at Gulliver’s World Theme Park in Warrington
The organisers have advised that the event will run from 10.30am and departure is 2.30pm/3pm.
How to Book?
Thursday 14th November – Rotherham
Tuesday 19th November – Warrington
We have 15 places for children and young people available for each date. Please only book ONE of the dates.
We are expecting a high level of interest in this event and therefore we ask that you only sign up if you are certain you can attend this event. Please note that both days are school days.
Tickets are on a first come first served basis, however, we will have a waiting list in case of last-minute cancellations.
All children must be accompanied by at least one parent or carer. Parent and carer places are not limited or counted towards the allocated spaces.
All children attending must have been born with a cleft lip and/or palate; siblings can only attend if they were also born with a cleft. If you’re bringing more than one child, we will require a minimum of one parent/carer for every two children. Each booking is for one child; if you want to bring multiple children born with a cleft, you must complete the form multiple times. You must book a separate place for each child.
We will send a confirmation email once you have signed up and a reminder email and more information nearer to the event. If you change your mind or your plans change then please contact us (even if it’s last minute) so we can offer your place to another family on the waiting list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the North Pole Bash?
A: The North Pole Bash is an annual Christmas event that is delivered by Variety, the Children’s Charity, and is hosted at Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts. The event is sponsored by The Lumistrella Company (Elf on the Shelf) and The Michael Josephson MBE Charity Ball. The sponsors have donated 30 places to CLAPA for the cleft community. The event is not organised or delivered in association with CLAPA.
Q: What’s included?
A: The event includes access to the specified Gulliver’s Theme Park Resort. Those attending the North Pole Bash will enjoy use of the rides (not all will be open), watch a pantomime, meet Elf on the Shelf, visit Father Christmas and receive a gift from the Grotto.
Lunch will be provided.
Travel and other expenses are not included.
Q: When and where is the event?
A: 15 places are available for Thursday 14th November (Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park, Rotherham) and 15 for Tuesday 19th November (Gulliver’s World Theme Park, Warrington).
Places are non-transferable and are only valid for the date/venue that they are issued for.
The organisers have advised that the event will run from 10.30am and departure is 2.30pm/3pm.
Q: Who will be attending the event?
A: Variety, the Children’s Charity, believes that every child has a right to live their best life and reach their full potential, whoever they are. They fund and deliver life-changing programs that give children and young people across the UK a better future.
They are delivering the North Pole Bash with up to 250 children and their parents/carers attending each event.
A maximum of 15 children from CLAPA’s community will attend each of the two events and they must be accompanied by a parent/carer.
Q: Who are CLAPA’s places for?
A: The places that CLAPA families are being offered are specifically for children aged 6 to 13 years who were born with a cleft lip and/or palate.
Due to the limited number of places available, all children attending must have been born with a cleft lip and/or palate.
Siblings can only attend if they were also born with a cleft. All children must be accompanied by a parent/carer for the duration of the event. We require a minimum of one parent/carer for every two children.
Q: How do I get there?
A: Travel is not included and you must be able to make your own way to and from the venue at the date/times specified. If you are experiencing financial challenges that may prevent you from being able to take part, please speak to us if you are successfully offered a place. You can do this by replying to your confirmation email.
Q: Why are both events being held on a school day?
A: The North Pole Bash is not run by CLAPA and we have no control over the dates.
Please note that Government guidelines regarding absence from school are changing in August 2024.
CLAPA suggests that parents/carers of any school-age children offered places liaise with their schools as soon as possible to get the day’s absence authorised.
Q: How will I know if I have been offered a place?
A: We will send a confirmation email once you have signed up as well as a reminder email and more information nearer to the event.
Q: Who should I speak to if I have a question about the event?
A: The event is delivered by Variety Children’s Charity. CLAPA is promoting 30 free places but we are not involved with planning or delivering the event. If you ask a question about the event that we are unable to answer then we will forward it to the Variety team and ask them to respond to you. If you have an issue on the day then please speak to the Variety team on-site who will be happy to help you.
Q: I am on the waiting list; how will I know if I get a place?
A: If a place becomes available, we will offer the place to the next child on our waiting list. The order is determined by who contacts us first.
We will contact the parent/carer via phone/email to notify them and ask that they confirm/decline as soon as possible. We will provide a deadline for a response and if we have not heard from the parent/carer by then, we will offer the place to the next person on the waiting list. If a waiting list offer is retracted, no alternative will be provided.
Q: What happens if I get a place but can no longer attend?
A: Please only apply for a place if you know you can definitely attend the dates.
We only have a limited number of places available and we don’t want anyone to miss out. If we don’t make full use of the places then it may mean that we are not offered similar opportunities in the future.
In case of last-minute illnesses or other issues, please contact us as soon as possible so we can offer your place to the next family on the waiting list. Please email [email protected] or reply to any of the confirmation emails about this event.