Families enjoy community centre's summer festival

Photo: Laura Wild

Girls enjoying the bouncy castle

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Members of the community gathered together today (Sunday 1 August 2010) for an afternoon of fun and games at the Sparth Community Centre.

The centre and its grounds were transformed with colourful bunting, bouncy castles, and much more for its annual Summer Festival.

The fun and games kicked off at 1pm, 5-a-side football games, face painting, and henna art were just some of the things available to the community.

Kenny Farrer from Sparth Community Centre explained that the day is simply a chance to get the whole community together.

He said: “Throughout the year we have all sorts of things going on, but they are all for specific groups, so the aim of today is to bring everybody together. We used to have a community bonfire night but about eight years ago we decided to hold a summer festival instead.

“This is our once a year community cohesion event, it gives us the chance to be together whilst raising money for the centre, money which is needed to keep it going.”

Mr Farrer added: “We do look for support from local businesses and this year Gabbots Farm butchers has provided us with food for the BBQ, the support from Gabbots is ongoing and without people like them we wouldn’t be able to generate money to develop the centre. We really appreciate their help.”

Another group of people Mr Farrer praised for their help and support in pulling the day together was the centre’s volunteers.

“I think in a way the volunteers are more important than paid staff, paid staff do what they have to do whether they like it or not but the volunteers give up their time, they do like it and without them events such as this wouldn’t happen,” said Mr Farrer.

The Sparth Community Summer Festival is held every year; Mr Farrer explained that it gives the centre an “identity.”

“Days like this give us an identity, it says this is Sparth, we’re here and we’re active and we are working together to make this area a better place.”