One Day at Christmas creates festive magic at the NEC

The annual event by Mash Media welcomed hundreds of visitors who may otherwise be alone at Christmas time, giving them a special day which included a Christmas lunch, entertainment, gifts and games.

Welcoming around 900 visitors simultaneously across three sites - the NEC in Birmingham, ExCeL London, and the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow - the event was the biggest One Day at Christmas event to date. 

Ian Taylor commented: “It has been a privilege for the NEC to support Mash Media in delivering ‘One Day at Christmas’ for hundreds of elderly and vulnerable local residents. It is a special event that has become a regular feature on the venue’s festive calendar, for those who otherwise may be alone at Christmas.

“A huge thanks to everyone that helped make the event such a success, including our staff volunteers who gave our visitors a day to remember.”

Mash Media managing director Julian Agostini started the event as a way to bring the events industry together and give back in 2014. This year’s event was the UK’s biggest ever free Christmas party, taking place across all three venues simultaneously for the first time.

He said: “If you look around the room, there are so many smiles, we are making people happy, and including people who are so grateful to have a day like this. Hopefully they make a friend or two which is the legacy of it. We have had so many volunteers, so many people throwing weight money, effort and everything in to it, from our wonderful industry who create experiences and get people together.”

The not-for-profit event is support by volunteers from each of the venues, with more than 100 volunteers from dozens of companies having offered their time for free to make the day extra special.

Gary Masters from the NEC, one of the volunteers, said: "It’s a really special day. It’s great to engage with the local community, to give them something to look forward to and say thank you to everything they’ve done for us.”

For more detail about the event visit https://www.onedayatchristmas.com/