At the Stronger Together Foundation, celebrating people is what we do best; and that includes our amazing team! Last week, we swapped our uniforms for cringy Christmas jumpers and came together for our inaugural Christmas in July party at the Bella Vista Hotel. It might not have been December, but we never need much of an excuse to take a step back, come together, and share some well-deserved laughs. And what a night it turned out to be!
Tinsel, Terrible Puns & Festive Cheer
The moment we walked in, it felt like Christmas had come early. The room was decked out with snowmen, festive table settings, and just the right amount of warmth. It was cosy, cheerful, and full of that unmistakable end-of-year energy… only six months early!
As always, there were plenty of terrible Christmas puns flying around, music playing in the background, and lots of catching up between colleagues. These nights remind us just how lucky we are to work with such a great bunch of people.
Celebrating the People Who Make It All Happen
One of the most special moments of the night was pausing to recognise the people who keep this place running day in and day out – our team.
We kicked things off with a few fun (and slightly cheeky) awards:
Best Dressed went to someone who took Christmas spirit to the next level; we’re talking full festive fashion!
The Tardy Award gave a nod to the person who showed up a little late… but made a very stylish entrance.
And of course, the Lucky Door Prize had everyone on the edge of their seats, hoping to hear their name called. In a hilarious twist, both Emma’s in attendance were drawn, so they had to settle the score with an intense and crowd-cheering game of Rock, Paper, Scissors!
But the biggest round of applause came when we honoured the staff who reached their 1, 3, and 5-year anniversaries with the Foundation. It’s not just about numbers, it’s about showing appreciation for the people who’ve shared their time, energy, and heart with us over the years. They each received a small gift, but the gratitude we feel is huge.
Games, Giggles & a Bit of Healthy Competition
After dinner, the games began – and if there’s one thing we’ve learnt, it’s that our team loves a good game night.
We kicked things off with “Guess That Baby”, where everyone tried to match baby photos to their now-grown-up colleagues. Some were easy… others, not so much! Let’s just say we’ll never look at a few coworkers the same way again.
Then it was time for Bad Santa – the classic game of swapping (or stealing!) wrapped gifts. Things got competitive fast, with a few hot-ticket items being passed around more times than we could count.
Next came a high-energy round of Charades, and it did not disappoint. From dramatic reenactments of Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is you” to wild interpretations of animals, we saw some truly Oscar-worthy performances.
And to wrap it all up, we played a few hilarious rounds of Imposter – a team favourite where you try to uncover who among you is pretending to know what’s going on. Accusations flew, alliances were formed, and there were plenty of shocked gasps (and laughs) when the real imposters were revealed.
A Reminder of What Really Matters
While the decorations, the games, and the laughter made the night fun, what really made it special was the sense of connection. Events like these remind us that we’re not just coworkers; we’re a team, and more than that, a community.
At the Stronger Together Foundation, we believe people do their best work when they feel supported, appreciated, and part of something bigger. Whether someone’s been here for a few weeks or a few years, we want everyone to feel like they belong.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the second half of the year, we’re feeling grateful, for the work we do, for the people we do it with, and for moments like these that let us pause and celebrate how far we’ve come.
To our incredible team: thank you for everything you bring to the table. You’re the heart of this place.
And to anyone reading this and thinking, “I want to be part of a team like that,” – keep an eye out on our careers page. We’re always looking for passionate, kind-hearted people to join our growing team.
Here’s to more memories, more milestones, and many more reasons to celebrate. We can’t wait for the next one!
