In March 2021, Trefoil awarded an organisational grant of £2,500 to Families First St Andrews. The grant was used to fund four family events throughout the year which would help to improve social skills, create new relationships, whilst building on existing ones and generally develop the children’s self-esteem.
Due to the second coronavirus lockdown, the first event had to be changed and organsied online in the form of an Easter Zoom. The families were invited to an online group session where they interacted by playing games, dressing up and making Easter nest cakes together. Each family had the ingredients and recipes for the baking delivered in advance of the Zoom.
Easter Zoom baking creations
The next three events then took place in person. The first was a summer picnic held with families at a local park, where snacks and activities were provided for by Families First St Andrews. The next was an outing in October, where coaches, staff, and volunteers accompanied families to a bowling alley in Dunfermline and provided lunch for all participants. Finally, Families First St Andrews organised a trip to the local pantomime in December, with drinks and snacks included.
Families First St Andrews team at the October event.
Families First St Andrews team and children at the Christmas Pantomime
Families First St Andrews received very positive feedback from all participants, with an average of 73% of the families involved stating that they would not have had a day out with their family had they not been able to attend one of Families First St Andrews events. The events allowed the families to bond and created an opportunity for some quality time together, while meeting other families who share similar experiences.
It gave us the chance to get out the house and spend some time together as a family.
Feedback from Participants:
The staff were great and very helpful and took the time on the day to help all families to get a day out.
Playing together/eating together; supporting each other - all rarities for us.
Was great to spend a day out; the kids actually got along; we couldn’t usually do a day like today
Thank you so much for this lovely day. As a family right now, we could absolutely not afford to do this, so we really do appreciate all the effort put in today.
We managed a day out together and had fun; everyone was lovely as usual.
Stress-free family outing; everything was well-planned by Families First.
Trefoil are delighted to have supported Families First St Andrews in the running of their four annual events. It is clear that the activities enabled families to bond and is great to hear such positive feedback from those involved.