How Hartlepool children can go trick or treating in Covid-19 safety this Halloween

A Halloween treat is on the way for Hartlepool children thanks to a town-wide initiative.
Miles for Men are to put Halloween tables with sweets for the children instead of trick or treating. From left Michelle Shield and Kelly Pearson.Miles for Men are to put Halloween tables with sweets for the children instead of trick or treating. From left Michelle Shield and Kelly Pearson.
Miles for Men are to put Halloween tables with sweets for the children instead of trick or treating. From left Michelle Shield and Kelly Pearson.

Charities and local causes have come together to overcome the problem of youngsters being restricted from going trick or treating on October 31.

Instead, children will be given sweets and treats in different ways thanks to big-hearted groups which are launching their own Halloween plans.

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In some areas, tables will be set up in neighbourhoods, each filled with pre-packed sweets.

Micky Day from Miles for Men.Micky Day from Miles for Men.
Micky Day from Miles for Men.

In others, sweets will be handed out directly to children or children will be encouraged to collect sweets from a designated spot.

Organisations behind the scheme include Miles for Men, the Annexe, Hartlepool Action Lab, the Kilmarnock Road Children and Young People Family Resource Centre, and the Poolie Time Exchange.

Miles for Men Founder Micky Day said: “We are going to put up a table. People can call over and pick sweets up off the table.

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"There are lots of children who won’t be able to go out and about like they could in other years. This way, there will be a table with volunteers to make sure everything is social distanced. Everything will be wiped down and there will be hand sanitisers.”

The Kilmarnock Road Children and Young People Family Resource Centre.The Kilmarnock Road Children and Young People Family Resource Centre.
The Kilmarnock Road Children and Young People Family Resource Centre.

Micky added: “Everyone loves Halloween and this has been in the planning for the last three to four weeks.

"We have had a lot of sweets donated from the Pound Shop and Asda and it has really helped. It means that kids can get dressed up and come along.”

The Miles for Men table is expected to be at Rossmere Park from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Saturday.

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Teresa Driver, from The Annexe in Wharton Terrace, said: "Since the start of lockdown in March we have been supporting the people of Dyke House as safely as possible.

The Poolie Time Emporium.The Poolie Time Emporium.
The Poolie Time Emporium.

"Obviously we want children to enjoy Halloween safely and by putting a spooky table out in a Covid secure way, we think we've got the balance right. We couldn't have done this without the kind donation of sweets from Asda and want to thank them for their generosity.

"We urge everybody to respect the guidance of hands, face and space and rather than go house to house, visit the tables set up across the town instead."

More details of the exact time and location of the table will be revealed later this week.

Ann Heaton, community centre manager at the Kilmarnock Road Children and Young People Family Resource Centre, said their plan was to hold an end of half term party for the members of their youth club later this week.

"They will be given a Halloween treat at the party.

"We are trying to do it this way to save children from knocking on doors.”

Stephen Picton, from the Poolie Time Exchange which has its own shop, said sweets ‘would be available at the shop all day Saturday” in the Poolie Time Emporium in Victoria Road.

To add an extra element to the offer, children are being encouraged to pick up a colouring-in sheet. Then, when they complete it, they can return it to the Emporium in exchange for sweets.

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Hartlepool Action Lab Communications and Connections Worker Darren Leighton said: “We will be delivering sweet packages to households in the area and have put posters up to let people know. We will be in Cornwall Street and the surrounding area from 1pm to 3pm on Friday, October 30, delivering sweet parcels to people's doorsteps for them to take inside.

"We will then return around 5pm to pick up any litter. We won't be knocking on doors to ensure our staff are safe, but we will be dropping off sweets to anyone who would like to receive them and has got in touch with us prior.

"We want to ensure we are following the current guidelines whilst also keeping the spirit of Halloween for the families in the area. We are adopting a reverse trick or treat by delivering the sweets to your door and by doing so hope to keep everyone safe.”

Other groups involved in the Halloween scheme – as well as individuals who are determined to help out in their in own neighbourhoods – are expected to announce more details of their own plans later this week on social media in the areas of Hartlepool that they cover.

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