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Outreach
Spafest took elements of the festival to care homes, hospices, and special needs centres. Outreach partners included Hospice in the Weald, Pepenbury Day Centre, Barnardos Apex project, Seven Springs Leonard Cheshire homes, Mencap and Birkin Lodge, Firtree House and Ashurst Park nursing homes.
The events got off to lively start on Monday 24th July with the Flat Cat Band providing music for the Pepenbury Barn Dance. The carers and service users decked the hall out in authentic western style even down to the Jailhouse and Teepee, yeeha!
A trip down memory lane provided songs and stories from times gone by for some of the borough’s nursing homes and residents at Seven Springs Cheshire Home were thrilled with a wheelchair dance with music from all decades to please every rhythm and dance taste.
Children spun plates and took part in magic tricks at Mencap, this was followed later in the week by an amazing drum workshop.
The fortnight ended with a fun day for Barnardos on Saturday 5th August at Meadow school, including face painting, magic and drumming. Barnardos provided a wonderful barbecue feast.
SPAFEST EXPRESS
One of the highlight projects of the outreach programme was the Spafest Express. Outreach programme coordinator Pamela Wilson developed an art project for Barnardo’s Apex Project taking the children on a trip to Groombridge Place.
After a grand send off at The Spa Valley Railway on 27th July from the town crier, John Scholey and the Royal Borough Morris, the children boarded the train to Groombridge Place had an adventurous trip through the Enchanted Forest, through the rustic gates along boardwalk, winding through woodland to the giant swings, serpents lair and mystic pools.
They boarded the canal boat ‘The Enchanted Lady’ watching views across the valley and spotting the birds of prey along the way. After a well-earned rest and picnic the children explored the maze before making their way home by train to the West Station.
During this time the children were encouraged to think about creating a piece of artwork inspired by their journey and day out. Everyone went home thrilled with the day’s activities; the children were inspired by their wonderful day out.
The following day at the Christ Church Centre in Tunbridge Wells the children completed paintings of their journey and experience.
The event was rounded off by a reception and exhibition at Woods Wine Bar in the Pantiles, for the children, parents, support workers, and sponsors of the outreach programme HR Experts. The Barnardos exhibition ran until 14th August.
Alan Clarke, Managing Director of HR Experts stated, "A core value of HR Experts is giving back to the community and encouraging our employees to look beyond the business environment. With Spafest’s outreach programme we have been able to facilitate these important company ethics. The children from Barnardos have had a great time and produced some wonderful work".
