Hayley is based within one of our residential children’s houses at Forest View in Lochwinnoch. She cares for younger children between the ages of five and 12 and makes sure Christmas feels magical for them.
When you’re younger, Christmas time can be filled with wonder and enchantment and Hayley wholeheartedly believes in making December as special as possible for those at Forest View.
Hayley shares the month of December is a favourite of hers: “I love when the Christmas rush begins. We help children write their letters to Santa and see the joy on their faces each morning when they wake up to see what mischief the elf has been up to. One of the favourites, has been when the elves pinched some apples and dressed up as Ninja Turtles.
Hayley with the Christmas tree.
She describes the fun children have throughout Christmas time: “The children are enjoying trips to the panto, having breakfast with Santa and have went to Winter Wonderland at Valley View.”
It’s filled with sentimental memories: “The children love getting creative and have made their own stockings and decorations for the tree. We kept a handmade star made by one young person last Christmas and this year, he helped put up the tree and placed his star at the top.”
While there can be lots going on during the busy time of year, the wholesome traditions remain precious: “Christmas can be a difficult time of year for some people and we really try and make it as magical for the children as we can. We love to get the children involved in all the Christmas traditions from sprinkling the reindeer dust to leaving out a carrot, some milk and a cookie for Santa.”
For the past six years, Hayley has built her career at Kibble. She understands the job role is essential and comes with the requirement of being present at all times of the year and looks forward to December. Hayley embraces the opportunity to make lifelong memories for children and sees it as a privilege.
Ultimately, Hayley’s Christmas wish is for young people to be happy: “I love the feeling of knowing you are making a positive difference in a child’s life no matter how big or small that may be.”