The pumpkins were plentiful, and the weather unseasonably warm for the Family Fun Day held this half term. On Wednesday, the 30th of October, Sprowston Youth Engagement Project opened the gates to their Urban Adventure Garden, offering local families activities ranging from archery to animal petting, adding some colour to the autumn school holiday. With queues forming at the gate at 11 a.m., an event buzzing with excitement throughout the day, and many happy faces, it’s fair to say the day was a resounding success—raising over £300 for the charity.
Sprowston Youth Engagement Project began delivering youth activities at the Church Lane site in 2022, offering a variety of initiatives, including a weekly bike club and a community ambassador programme. The Family Fun Day provided an opportunity for the broader community to visit the garden, meet the team, and enjoy a family day full of activities. You may wonder, how could one fun day keep every member of the family entertained?
Fear not! Whether you prefer making friends with unusual animals, trying your hand at axe throwing, or being transformed by a talented local face-painting artist, there was something for everyone. In fact, it was hard to decide what was more popular—the Little Owl and Corn Snake in the capable hands of Wild Touch Wildlife Rescue, the face painting by Crazy Skins, or the archery and axe-throwing activities provided by X-Adventure. Every attraction stayed busy from beginning to end. In addition to owls, axes, and artistic creations, the bike club offered free bike repairs for bikes in need and special homemade jam by Jacob, a young participant of the bike club. There was also a circus workshop by Fool Hardy Circus, sports activities, and much more.
Sprowston Youth Engagement Project would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day such a huge success. Big plans are ahead for the Urban Adventure Garden in 2025, and SYEP is excited to expand its offerings to both local young people and the wider community. They look forward to hosting many more events at the site in the coming year.
Written by Dan Harper – Senior Youth Worker at SYEP.
