Zoo charity launches “corporate Christmas parties with a difference” to raise vital funds during energy crisis

The Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), the charity behind Africa Alive Zoological Reserve in Suffolk and Banham Zoological Gardens in Norfolk, is offering businesses a unique Christmas party experience in aid of animal conservation this year.

Held in the tranquil surroundings of Africa Alive or Banham, ZSEA’s Christmas Parties With a Difference include a full day of volunteering, teambuilding and behind-the-scenes animal experiences, followed by a two-course festive lunch with all the trimmings. All funds raised go directly to helping the charity survive the energy crisis and continue their vital conservation work.

Companies have a unique opportunity to connect with one another and nature as they spend the morning volunteering alongside ZSEA’s operations and animal team, from building animal shelters to painting and planting, gardening, or enclosure maintenance. The day also includes an exclusive animal experience as a gift for the whole team.

Claudia Roberts, CEO and ZSEA, said: “This Christmas we are offering the chance to unwind, connect with nature, and leave your team feeling inspired after a festive afternoon. In this unique twist on a teambuilding day, your group can get in the Christmas spirit while directly contributing towards the care and wellbeing of our animals.

“As a charity, we solely rely on the support of our members, visitors and volunteers to continue our vital conservation work. This is a fantastic way for East Anglian businesses to give back to their local conservation charity this Christmas, helping us to protect wildlife and critically endangered animals.

“The financial impact of rising energy bills is equivalent to our charity hiring 24 members of staff overnight, creating a perfect storm when combined with rising interest rates, and a cost of living crisis impacting vital visitor income.”

The Christmas parties come following the success of ZSEA’s ongoing corporate volunteering programme. Insurance company Aviva is one of the many businesses benefitting from teambuilding days at Banham and Africa Alive.

Jo Gibbs, Change Partner at Aviva, said: “We can’t thank ZSEA enough for our recent volunteering day with them. As well as saving animals from extinction, the charity also empower local communities to make nature-positive changes by promoting the connection between wildlife and wellbeing.

“Our day was packed with animal activities, from feeding the giraffes to building a new lemur enclosure. It was a great chance to work together as team and learn some new skills such as fence building and demolition!

“What everyone really enjoyed was hearing about the animals and the amazing knowledge of the employees ZSEA.  Thank you so much for hosting us and we can’t wait to come back soon.”

Tickets are £34.95 per person including zoo entry, a tasty 2-course Christmas lunch and an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with ZSEA’s operations and animal team.

Book for Banham Zoological Gardens: https://www.zsea.org/banham/tickets/bz-corporate-christmas-teambuilding

Book for Africa Alive Zoological Reserve: https://www.zsea.org/reserve/tickets/africa-alive-corporate-christmas-teambuilding