A Stevenage family has been left devastated after their 13-year-old son was excluded from his promised role of turning on the town's Christmas lights, an incident that has prompted a council apology and a full investigation.
A Promise Broken
Logan, a teenager with special educational needs, had been publicly advertised as the guest who would press the button to illuminate Stevenage town centre alongside Santa. Posters for the event explicitly featured him in this role. However, on the night of the switch-on, the experience turned sour.
According to his mother, Gemma Keir, Logan was "pushed to the back of the stage" and not acknowledged during the ceremony. A different child was given the honour of pressing the button. Gemma described the heartbreaking moment, stating Logan was looking up at her during the countdown, asking, "Where’s the button, mummy, where’s the button, where’s Santa?"
The Aftermath and Outcry
The consequences of the incident were immediate and severe for Logan. His mother reported that he was so upset he was unable to sleep that night and asked the following day when they would be returning to press the button. The teenager, who has 22q11 deletion syndrome (also known as DiGeorge syndrome), was also reportedly crushed after not getting the selfies he was excited about with the hip hop group So Solid Crew, who were performing.
Gemma Keir, who founded The Abilities In Me Foundation to promote inclusivity, complained directly to Stevenage Borough Council. In response, Coleen De Freitas, a cabinet member for equalities and young people, issued a public apology.
Council Response and Fallout
Stevenage Borough Council has triggered a full investigation into the mishandling of the event. Coleen De Freitas stated, "It was not our intention to offend or ignore them, and for that I wholeheartedly apologise on behalf of the council." She has also pledged to contact Gemma directly to apologise and listen to her views.
While other councils in Hertfordshire have since offered Logan the chance to turn on their Christmas lights, his mother emphasised that the gesture, while kind, does not replace the significance of him performing the duty in his own hometown of Stevenage. The family is seeking a direct apology to Logan himself.
