Summer holiday fun begins with free teddy bears’ picnic at Emmaus Mossley

The summer holidays are set to start with a cuddly celebration in Mossley as homelessness charity Emmaus Mossley invites local families to a free Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Thursday 31 July. The family-friendly event will run from 12 noon to 2pm at Lucie’s Café, located inside the Emmaus Mossley Secondhand Superstore at Longlands Mill.

This year’s picnic marks the third birthday of Bear, the much-loved Emmaus Mossley mascot, and promises to be a joyful afternoon of sharing food, stories, and teddy bear pride.

The picnic will follow the format of a Big Lunch-style community gathering, with guests encouraged to bring their own favourite teddy bear, plus a snack or sweet treat to contribute to the shared table. It’s an open invitation to celebrate friendship, fun and togetherness, just what summer should be all about.

Last year’s event brought smiles to young guests like Bobby, aged 6, who said: “I loved sharing my dinner with the Emmaus Bear and I could show everyone my favourite bear from home.” Elodie, aged 3, also shared her excitement: “I liked all the food we shared and lots of my friends that I know were there. I love Emmaus!”

The event is more than just a picnic, it’s a reflection of the Emmaus mission to build a sense of community while supporting people who have experienced homelessness. The charity provides not only accommodation, but also tailored support and work opportunities to help people regain confidence and independence.

Molly Ridgway, a staff member at Emmaus Mossley, highlighted the special connection many locals have with Bear: “Bear, the Emmaus Mossley mascot, is most well-known for his appearances on our ‘Friday Randoms’ on Instagram and our Facebook. Not only is it wonderful to celebrate three years of Bear, but also it’s important to appreciate how much our community has grown over that time.”

Emmaus Mossley is currently home to 26 people, each receiving holistic support to rebuild their lives. The charity is part of a wider network of 29 Emmaus communities across the UK, collectively supporting more than 850 people.

The Teddy Bears’ Picnic will take place on the 31st of July 12-2pm at Emmaus Mossley and is free to attend, and while there’s no entry fee, donations of food, snacks, cakes, or sweet treats are very welcome.

To find out more about Emmaus Mossley’s upcoming events, visit: https://emmaus.org.uk/mossley/support-us/events/