Festive joy and community spirit at the Afrocats Xmas party

Afrocats wrapped up 2025 with a celebration that perfectly captured everything we’re about: culture, community, and collective care at our annual Christmas party, which brought participants, volunteers, and partners together for a day filled with joy, creativity, and connection.

The atmosphere buzzed from the moment doors opened, and thanks to 10 superstar volunteers who packed food parcels with incredible efficiency, the space was ready in no time.

Guests arrived full of excitement, and the room quickly filled with smiles, music, and festive spirit.

A major highlight came from two fantastic performances by Beatrice’s young people’s groups, which radiated confidence and cultural pride.

We also premiered a wonderful video edited by Edel, which was a heartfelt look back at our year together. The audience energy was also electric: uplifting, supportive, and full of love.

Check out the video below:

Lunch was a delicious celebration of our diverse community - yes, including the classic jollof rice! And our kind and joyful catering team made sure everyone felt nourished and cared for.

Across the venue, party presents and food-packing stations kept spirits high. The very best part? Every attendee went home with a gift and a food parcel as a gift after months of planning and teamwork.

Our amazing young people also took home our Spirit of Dance Awards to honour their participation on our various projects, such as at Horizons Festival this past summer.

It was also the first time the event was led by our brilliant team member, Maya, and what a phenomenal achievement it was.

CEO Magdalen said:

'What a phenomenal achievement Saturday was. Your collective dedication and spirit made the event truly fabulous, and I hope you all take immense pride in that success.’

We want to extend a very special thank you to the lovely Sally Richards and the Variety team for their generous support. Because of this support, 10 families received £100 ASDA vouchers, which were gifted privately with dignity.

One parent later messaged:

‘Thank you so much for the Asda gift… I really need them because I pay for bills and I don’t have money enough for food.’

On our decorative Christmas tree tags, young people said our work brings them ‘joy’ and Afrocats feels like:

'... a big family, makes us feel welcome, and is a safe space.’

These words speak volumes, and your kindness provided real relief, and helped fill hearts as much as cupboards.

And as we look to 2026, we’re energised, grateful, and more committed than ever to creating a more equitable Manchester where every young person feels seen, supported, and celebrated.

Help us keep the joy going! Support Afrocats in 2026 by volunteering, donating, or partnering with us to empower more families and young people across the city.