Families supported by Home-Start Teesside were treated to a festive night to remember as The Auckland Project welcomed them to AGLOW, its spectacular 1.5-mile illuminated light trail in Bishop Auckland.
The families travelled in comfort thanks to complimentary transport provided by Eagle Chauffeuring, which collected them from Home-Start Teesside’s base in Middlesbrough in a fleet of luxury vehicles and drove them directly to the event. The light show started from the moment the families entered the vehicles, with ceiling-mounted multi-coloured LED lights providing a spectacle of shooting and twinkling stars along the route.
Once inside the trail, the families enjoyed exploring the illuminated route and visiting Santa’s Village, home to picturesque wooden cabins serving a vast array of festive food and drinks — from stone-baked pizzas and bratwurst sausages to turkey pies with mash, peas and gravy, and sweet treats including crumble and custard. Children and parents alike enjoyed toasting marshmallows around the fire pit, sipping hot chocolate and watching live performances by Santa’s elves, adding even more magic to the evening.
AGLOW – now in its third year – has become one of the North East’s most loved festive experiences, combining one of the tallest Christmas trees in the region bedecked in almost a kilometre of lights, an epic 100-metre tunnel of light, and more than 25 large-scale installations that transform the historic parkland around Auckland Palace.
Michelle Hardy, Scheme Manager at Home-Start Teesside, said: “For many of the families we support, opportunities like this simply wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of others. To see parents and children experiencing pure joy together — free from stress and worry — was incredibly special. We are so grateful to The Auckland Project and Eagle Chauffeuring for making such magical memories possible.”
Jane Ruffer, CEO at The Auckland Project, said: “Community is at the heart of everything we do, and AGLOW is designed to bring people together to celebrate the festive season. We were delighted to welcome the families supported by Home-Start Teesside and hope they had a magical evening exploring the trail.”
Babar Malik, Managing Director at Eagle Chauffeuring, said: “We are a family-run business from the North East, and supporting local causes and our community is something we feel is very important.
“When we heard about the opportunity to help Home-Start Teesside families enjoy AGLOW, we jumped at the chance. Seeing the excitement on the children’s faces when they saw our luxury vehicles and the amazement at the ceiling lights reminded us why partnerships like this really matter.”
Home-Start Teesside supports families with young children across Stockton, Middlesbrough, and Redcar & Cleveland, offering practical help and emotional support to those navigating the challenges of early parenthood. The charity currently supports 40 families and welcomes new volunteers to meet rising demand, with almost 160 referrals annually.
Founded in 2012 by Jonathan and Jane Ruffer, The Auckland Project is working to transform Bishop Auckland into a thriving destination for heritage, culture and community. Alongside AGLOW, its attractions — including Auckland Palace, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery and the multi-award-winning Faith Museum — are open Wednesday to Sunday for visitors looking to make a full day out.
AGLOW runs from 21 November to 31 December 2025 (excluding Christmas Day), with tickets starting from £13.50. Free parking, a dedicated Accessible Route and sensory-friendly sessions ensure that as many visitors as possible can enjoy the magic. More information is available by contacting enquiries[@]aucklandproject[.]org or visiting the AGLOW website https://aucklandaglow.org/.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
