On Thursday 10th August, the Energize team along with Alive Church, hosted a Family Fun Day at the Arboretum and I’d love to tell you all about it! The wider Acts team were encouraged to help on the day so we all descended in the glorious sunshine to help out.

When I arrived the site had been set up with crafts, inflatables, face painting, stalls for local businesses and food vendors. There was already a buzz of excitement building and people starting to gather in the shade enjoying their picnics. As the day went on it was wonderful to see the community gather to enjoy the day and connect with each other.

I was tasked with manning the information stall, and from there I had a vantage point of the whole site and was able to see the full extent of the activities and community engagement. Families gathering together, young people playing football, children on inflatables, the ever growing queue for the crafts and face painting, and the constant line for the ice cream van. It was a wonderful experience being able to take it all in, and to see the community come together in this way. 

At first glance you could write it off as a nice day, something fun that’s been and gone. But as I’ve thought back to it over the last week I have unraveled the deeper impact the Family Fun Day had. You don’t know what someone has been carrying, you can assume that the snapshot you see is someone’s 24/7 reality. This opportunity for fun, connection, joy and laughter may have been the highlight of someone’s summer. It was an opportunity to build connections within the community that will last a long time. It was an opportunity to connect with people who are lonely and feeling lost. It was an opportunity to provide care and support that extends far beyond that one day. It was an opportunity for people to find out who we are and what we do, so that when that support is required, they will think of Acts Trust as a safe place that supports the whole family. 

So while it was a very fun day, and my ice cream was delicious, I am really looking forward to seeing more results from this day. I can’t wait to build on the connections we made to have a greater impact into the community for the generations to come. 

Join us for the next Family Fun Day (and last one this summer!) on Thursday 24th August at Sudbrooke Drive Community Centre from 12.30pm-4pm.

If you are interested in finding out more about how Acts Trust can support you and your family, you can contact us here.

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