11 February 2010
Lapland Trip for Delce pupils and parents
Amazing Christmas trip organised by First Choice and Thomson Airways

Christmas got off to a flying start for around 100 children, parents and teachers as family holiday company First Choice and its airline Thomson Airways jetted them off to snowy Lapland for a fairytale trip of a lifetime.

 

Watch the film of the trip Thomson Airways will be showing on all their flights in the coming months

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If you want to download an MP4 version playable on Quicktime - click here - and open or Save As

or if you want a version playable on Windows Media Player - click here - and open or Save As

On Thursday 10 December, the children from Delce Junior School in Kent boarded the specially decorated, ‘Reindeer-powered’ Thomson Airways aircraft and were treated to a magical day in the winter wonderland of Lapland. They enjoyed an action-packed day of festive fun including husky rides, snowmobiles, meeting Rudolph and his friends - and of course a visit to meet the Big Man himself!

This special Christmas flight has been used to launch a Family Holiday Association-supported programme at the school. The three year school-centred project will provide simple UK breaks aimed at improving the lives of pupils and their families. The project hopes to encourage greater engagement and trust between school and families, enhance relationships and produce real and tangible benefits not just for the participants but the whole community. It will encompass the whole school community but with a focus on those children and families most likely to benefit. A break away from the stresses and strains of everyday life brings considerable benefits particularly to those families least able to afford a holiday. A simple break away from home has also been shown to help build stronger, happier families.

 

2007 X-Factor finalists Same Difference, brother and sister Sean and Sarah Smith, were star turns at the Wednesday evening pre-flight party.  The excitment was incredible when they appeared and sang a selection of songs.  They even came along for the trip and met Santa.  One pupil told how she had developed a dance routine to one of their songs and she was astonished when Same Difference sang the song and had her perform her routine! 

Dermot Blastland, TUI Travel Managing Director, said: “As the UK’s leading family holiday company, we fully understand the value of spending quality time together away from home. We are absolutely delighted to be able to make this Christmas extra special for these families and to demonstrate our continued commitment to this worthwhile charity.”

John McDonald, Director of the Family Holiday Association, said: “Thanks to First Choice and Thomson Airways we are able to give these children a Christmas treat they will never forget! For many of these families, it’s a very rare opportunity to spend some quality time together away from the stresses of everyday life.” 

The trip has already been covered by Kent Online (click here to view) and by by Meridian TV News and GMTV covered the story on Christmas Eve.


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GMTV Christmas Eve - Thursday 24 December 2009

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Meridian TV News - Monday 14 December 2009

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