YOUNG and old residents of Blackbird Leys came together for dinner and games at a community Christmas event.

Leys Community Development Initiative (CDI) launched an 11th-hour appeal for help funding the event and another project through the pages of the Oxford Mail.

The appeal paid off and the event on Thursday was a roaring success, with 150 people of all ages turning out to Blackbird Leys Community Centre for Christmas dinner, games and dancing.

CDI runs projects for young and elderly people in the area, and Thursday's event was a way of drawing those two groups together.

Chairwoman of CDI Sasha East said: “It was an intergenerational Christmas party bringing people involved in our projects together in one room.

"We had tables of up to 12 mixing younger and older people and had a load of games. The atmosphere was amazing. It was full of people and just so busy.

“It was very hard work and I collapsed in a heap by the end of it - but it was rewarding.”

Ms East said she was incredibly grateful for the support of the Oxford Mail and the people who had come forward to offer their money or time.

She continued: “We had the story in the paper and people have read it and felt moved to do something to help others.

“We’re very grateful and I’m sure everybody who attended the event was grateful as well.”

The group had run an intergenerational project before, but on a much smaller scale with about 50 people. Given the success of the event on Thursday, CDI is keen to host another event of that size in future.

Guests came into the hall at about 4pm, with an array of party games including human Connect 4 and 'people bingo' before and after the traditional Christmas meal with all the trimmings.

The rest of the £1,500 raised by CDI will go towards a project aiming to help the elderly and homeless over the festive period.

Youth project manager Marsha Jackson and her little helpers will deliver 'care packages' containing vital emergency supplies to 50 homeless people on the streets of Oxford and 50 isolated older people on Christmas Eve.

Hampers of food were distributed by the CDI to housebound people in the area last Christmas but Miss Jackson said this year the organisation was extending its reach.

She said: "Care packages include toiletries, gloves, socks, sleeping bags and non-perishable foods. The young people are helping out making mince pies.

"We want to get out into Oxford and give to the homeless. They are the forgotten community. It's cold outside."

For more information or to donate to CDI call 01865 395927