A GROUP of Dorchester students are offering even more reason for festive cheer with big charity bash.

Thomas Hardye sixth form pupils Neave Beard, Steph George and Saxon Stableford are offering anyone stuck for something to do between Christmas and New Year the perfect solution with their event at the Brewhouse and Kitchen at Brewery Square on Monday, December 29.

The family friendly event will feature a host of entertainment as well as a Battle of the Bands competition while raising funds for a worthy cause.

All proceeds from the night are going to Hanger’s Heroes and its support of Stella Hayward’s Riding for the Disabled.

The event runs from 3pm to 11pm with fun for all ages including a human fruit machine, face painting and a raffle with a host of great prizes donated by local businesses up for grabs.

Neave said she and the other organisers wanted to arrange something to do between Christmas and New Year and they wanted to build on the charity work they had done as part of their Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme.

She said: “We just thought between Christmas and New Year there’s not much going on and we were looking to do more for charity. It’s a real family event with something for everyone.”

The students said they were really surprised and delighted with how many people had been willing to offer support for the event and as a result they had barely spent anything on it so all the money raised on the day will be going to their chosen cause.

Friends, family, fellow students and local companies had all rallied round to offer their support.

Neave said she was also grateful to the Brewhouse and Kitchen for providing them with a great venue for the occasion.

Tickets are not compulsory but for £7 you get a free mulled wine or cider or a mocktail, entry into the exclusive Christmas jumper raffle, one strip of tickets for the main raffle and a vote for your favourite band in the Battle of the Bands contest.

For tickets email neave.beard@hotmail.co.uk Neave is also keen to hear from businesses willing to donate raffle prizes to email her at the same address.

  • STELLA Hayward’s Riding for the Disabled, the charity set to benefit from the event, offers horse riding to children and adults with a range of disabilities.

These include cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, victims of strokes, head injuries and back injuries as well as those with learning and behavioural problems. The work is supported by teachers and therapy professionals and is proven to have a beneficial effect both physically and socially.

As well as using real ponies at the Prince of Wales School, the charity also has a mechanical horse known as Jasper.