The Secret Sorting Office

07/12/2023

This wonderful video from Shelter got us thinking about the power of words! The Secret Sorting Office doesn't talk about 🎅 naughty and nice lists 🎅 or good and bad children because we know that every persons circumstance is different.

Small acts of kindness could easily come in the form of just being considered in the words we choose to use, taking a beat to check our own unconscious bias', perceptions, experiences and the assumptions we make. Even though our intent is from a good place, sometimes we don't realise the impact our words can leave behind.

Thanks Shelter for a thought- provoking and impactful video!

https://fb.watch/oNf_eBjk2E/

02/10/2023

Hello everyone, it is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we are announcing that the experience of The Secret Sorting Office won't be returning.

We both have children who are at the age where the special 'believe years' are nearly over. Running this event brings us so much joy and keeps the magic so real for our own inner child, and hopefully, to you all - but it keeps us away from our own children at the most magical and precious time of year. We have tried lots of different ways to manage this - but at this stage the personal sacrifice is too great!

🌈Kindness, understanding and inclusivity🌈 have always been at the heart of everything we do at The Secret Sorting Office. We believe these are the values that our children will hold strong to make our communities, and the world, a better place.

⭐️ These values are so important that we will be working on other ways for these messages from The Secret Sorting office to be told in the near future. We will continue to communicate through this page.⭐️

We have absolutely loved sharing this journey with you all. There has been tears of joy, true human connection and love in all the visits and sessions.

Thank you for all of your support and kind words over the years.

🎄 CHRISTMAS SALE 🎄

We do have some Christmas decorations and gifts left from our pop up shop which we will be posting on here over the next few weeks at heavily discounted prices.

Father Christmas has also left us with some compasses and other bits for those children who may have lost theirs from last year or for any new siblings who would like to have their very own keepsake. So please get in touch if you would like us to get one to you.

We wish you all a wonderful Christmas 2023!!
Gem and Rach xx

19/12/2022

All the children that visited Father Christmas yesterday were given one of these envelopes from our tree.

Inside on a card- they were asked to write down what Christmas means to them, then to seal the envelope and gift it to someone to spread Christmas joy.

We give ours to all the wonderful people and organisations that came together yesterday to support families of the High Peak. Here goes:

🎄 Rock Mill Centre
🎄 Wiseheart & Wild (Kate and Annie - the gorgeous photos are Annie's talents!)
🎄High Peak Toy Bank Appeal
🎄New Mills Youth and Community Project CIC
🎄Everyone who visited and/or made donations

On Christmas Eve, Father Christmas cannot wait to see the cards in the homes of all those you love or are thinking about this Christmas!

18/12/2022

Father Christmas would like to say "thank you so much" for all of the present donations so far today!!!

Please come on down whether you are donating or not, Father Christmas would be delighted to meet you.

17/12/2022

Follow the brown signs for the 'Heritage Centre' when visiting us tomorrow, if anyone gets lost pop into Wiseheart & Wild on the roundabout and they will point you in the right direction. 🎅🎄

17/12/2022

A lovely day spent getting ready to welcome back Father Christmas tomorrow to the High Peak! Rock Mill Centre 🎅 🎄 ♥️

17/12/2022

HOW TO FIND US -
The Rock Mill Centre is in the old Heritage Information building behind the bus station in New Mills and opposite the Millennium Bridge.

TIMINGS -
Sunday 18th Dec, 10-3pm

We are spending the day collecting new 'unwrapped' gifts for children and teens across the High Peak on behalf of The High Peak Toy Bank Appeal.

To help us with such an important cause, Father Christmas will be at the centre to meet and greet the children. Don't worry if you can't donate this year, all children that pop down will be able to have a chat with him.

Please note, this isn't a full Secret Sorting Office experience, it is an opportunity for us to continue to support the Toy Bank. Whilst we will have a tree up and try and look as festive as we can please don't expect to see The Sorting Office, It's hidden very well this year..even we don't know where! 🎄

16/12/2022

🎅🎅 THIS SUNDAY - 18TH DECEMBER 🎅🎅
Rock Mill Lane, New Mills, High Peak, SK22 3BN.

COME AND MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS FROM THE SECRET SORTING OFFICE and donate some new toys/gifts to the High Peak Toy Bank Appeal for families across the High Peak

Please don't forget the teens when buying, we are always short on gifts for this age group.

04/12/2022

🎅🎅 SUNDAY 18TH DECEMBER 🎅🎅

On Sunday 18th December in New Mills from 10am - 3pm we will be collecting new wrapped toy donations for the High Peak Toy Bank Appeal.

This year's donations have been understandably lower than our previous years and we really want to encourage you if you can to drop off a present for children of High Peak, however small.

We have a little help from our dear and wonderful Father Christmas. We couldn't keep him away from the High Peak this year! And he is very excited to meet and greet the children and receive the gift donations.

He will also be delighted to recieve childrens Christmas letters or drawings for those who haven't already sent theirs via 'smoke post' up the chimney or airmail.

Please note - this is a drop in set up inorder to collect gifts for The Toy Bank. It isn't a Sorting Office experience as per previous years. We will be back next year with our Secret Sorting Office experience.

28/11/2022

Hello everyone!! Please keep your eyes peeled on the page here over next few days to find out more about our High Peak Toy Bank Appeal weekend!!

WE NEED YOUR HELP- The number of donations to the Toy Bank have been much lower this year as everyone is feeling the pinch! But there are so many more families in need of a bit of extra help this Xmas.

Our gift collection weekend will be taking place in New Mills this year on Sunday 18th December and we are hoping to have a very special guest make a visit to help us receive the gift donations. 🎅

Pop the date in the diary and keep an eye on the page, and we will share more details later in the week.

09/10/2022

The High Peak Toy Bank Amazon Wishlist is now live - for all those who aren't able to attend the Toy collection weekend or deliver to a drop off location- but still wants to contribute!!

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06/10/2022

🎅 Update for 2022 Experience 🎅

Hey everyone, we are very sorry for the delay in this update.We have been overwhelmed by the amount of lovely messages asking about this year's plans - thank you for your patience.

We have had a very challenging 6 months with ongoing personal ill health and the rising costs affecting small businesses.

As a result of these things and others - unfortunately we have been unable to secure a viable venue for 2022.

Therefore this year the Secret Sorting Office will not be running as it did last year. We really are sorry that we couldn't get this message to you sooner but we really wanted to explore every possible option before this one.

The GOOD NEWS is, we will be offering SOMETHING that 'all can access' this year. So please watch this space!

ALL IS NOT LOST for 2022!!🎄🎅

Many of you will be aware of our gift collections in collaboration with High Peak Toy Bank Appeal - which supports parents who need a little help to bring Christmas to their families.

This year, our dear Father Christmas has informed us that he will thankfully be back with messages of love and kindness for A WEEKEND IN DECEMBER to help us with collecting gift donations and to meet and greet you all.

We are on a massive learning curve and we want to thank those who have supported us over the past few years. We are not a big outfit- we are 2 local Mums who had a crazy idea and a whole lot of heart and Christmas spirit!!

We are also looking to expand our team in 2023, and are keen to hear from people who may be interested in helping us to achieve our ambitions with their skill. If this is you- please do get in touch for a chat!!

Please keep an eye on the page here, for more details on the Toy Bank weekend and other updates for this year and next.

Thank you to all these wonderful businesses who have helped us on our journey so far and continue to support us:
Wiseheart & Wild
Karen Finley (amazing Graphic Designer & Illustrator)
Andy (secret super geek - web developer)
High Peak Toy Bank Appeal (link above)
(link won't work!)
The Sign Bridge
Little Fika
New Mills Youth and Community Project CIC
Beauty by Becky Burt
Wild Pixel
Jasmine Habgood
The Allotment Bride Florist

08/09/2022

🎅 Hey everyone, just wanted to acknowledge and thank you for all of the enquiries about 2022. We will provide an update on this page shortly, apologies that we haven't been able to get back to you all individually.

27/12/2021

Many of you were lucky enough to meet our Navigator Elf Jasmine, as you will know she loves to sing and has the most beautiful voice. Please take a look at her social pages and Spotify to hear more.

We loved working with you Jasmine. Thank you for taking the time out from Xmas Eve planning to visit Whaley Bridge this year with Father Christmas.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6mCCBJ6bAmYebhc60KCCG5?si=bLbdltrpTNisWsDb7TEutw&utm_source=copy-link

https://youtube.com/channel/UCcz3ZRSI3I1ipFEkjgW1NIg

https://www.instagram.com/jasminehabgoodmusic/?hl=en

Artist · 9 monthly listeners.

23/12/2021

🎅 Let Christmas Commence... 🎅

Father Christmas has sorted his letters and absolutely loved meeting so many of the children of The High Peak and beyond.

This evening he is North Pole bound to finish his last minute plans and preparations ahead of this year's journey.

Merry Christmas and Thank You from Father Christmas, Jasmine the Navigation Elf, Gemma and Rach ###x

22/12/2021

Thank you so much to everyone who has let us know if they can't make their slot with us - this is such a huge help as it means that we can let the session start without waiting a few mins and causing delays. We are a teeny tiny little team and venue and all of your support really helps things run smoothly! Thank you

P.s - All those visiting today (already sent) and tomorrow will receive an email with some instructions about your visit - particularly, clarity on timings, Covid measures whilst here etc. Please look out for these :)

21/12/2021

🎅 A PLEA TO ALL WHO HAVE BOOKED 🎅

Please double check your booking time slot, the booking confirmation outlines the start and finish time, please could you arrive no later than 5 mins b4 your appt. Your meeting with Father Christmas will begin at the start time on your booking. This is to ensure that all children are seen and to avoid delays for families.

Many thanks to you all for your support, can't wait to see you all. Xx