Over the past year, Sturminster Newton’s charity-run leisure centre, Sturfit, has organised a series of fundraising events to establish a Community Fund. A community games night, Zumba glow party, raffles and even staff member Hayley running the London Marathon all helped build a healthy pot ready to support leisure and recreational activities at the centre.
The fund has already enabled the launch of the new Pickleball Club and covered staff training to offer chair-based exercise classes in partnership with Age Concern. For half term, the team at Sturfit came up with the idea of running a completely free inflatable fun session in the main hall.
Sturfit spoke to Bounceabout, who supply inflatables for both community and private events, and after hearing the plan, Bounceabout were more than happy to select the best range of inflatables to suit the space and all age groups, also offering generous hire rates.
On Tuesday 28th October, an early set-up was needed. By 9.15am Bounceabout had everything in place, and the Sturfit staff and volunteers were ready with refreshments, safety briefings and zoned-off areas.
‘With no booking system in place, numbers were hard to predict,’ says manager Roger Teasdale. ’But by 10.15 the centre was packed! Families arrived early to beat the rush, the car park quickly filled, and people were walking in from Honeymead Lane. Thankfully, the inflatables and the hall easily accommodated everyone: we were busy throughout the day.
‘Some families stayed the full five hours! Others came back after lunch for a second round.’
A small refreshment stand selling tea, coffee, biscuits and sweets helped put a little extra back into the Community Fund, and donations from grateful parents on the day also added to the pot.
‘It was a free event with absolutely no expectations of any payment,’ says Roger. ‘But we did receive a number of donations on the day, meaning we will be able to continue to provide events such as this for a little longer. It was a lovely – and tiring! – day for everyone, but it was fantastic to see so many people having so much fun. We received lots of grateful feedback from happy children, parents and grandparents for offering a fun, free event so close to home. We know similar days out from Stur usually mean a long journey plus a hefty price tag.’
sponsored by Wessex Internet
