More than 1000 teddy bears enjoyed a picnic at Home-Start Northern Ireland's 25th anniversary celebrations

To celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of Home-Start supporting families in Northern Ireland, a huge Teddy Bears' picnic and family fun day was held at Leslie Hill Open Farm, Ballymoney on Wednesday 6^th August.

Over five hundred families supported by Home-Start past and present attended the picnic and family fun day. The only rule was to bring your teddy with you! Also attending was Lady Christine Eames, Special Patron for Home-Start Northern Ireland's 25^th year and special guest Pudsey Bear.

"Families are central to everything we do in Home-Start. This was our way of celebrating not only 25 years in Northern Ireland but also stressing the importance of fun in family life. It was so rewarding to see so many young children and their parents enjoying a fun packed day out at the farm," said organiser Margaret Thompson, Co-ordinator Home-Start Antrim.

A family from North Belfast supported by Home-Start commented: "it was a terrific day out, the kids just loved everything from the animals and pony rides to the puddles, even the rain didn't stop the fun."

Heather Knox, Director of Home-Start in Northern Ireland said: "This year we are celebrating 25 years of providing support to young families. We've planned a series of events for almost everyone from politicians, families and volunteers and even budding photographers - see the Home-Start website for more details of the photographic competition. The number of Home-Start schemes has grown over the years and we're now able to support so many more families than we did 25 years ago."

-Ends-

National contact:

Jo McLeish, Press and PR Officer t: 0870 220 6713; e: jmcleish@home-start.org.uk

Web: www.home-start.org.uk

Local contact:

Name: Gemma Bell

Home-Start

t: 028 8778 9489

e: homestartad@btconnect.com

Notes to Editors:

Home-Start

Home-Start is the UK's leading family support charity. We recruit and train volunteers to support parents with at least one child under the age of five. Our home visiting work is unique in the UK. The charity was set up in 1973 and now supports nearly 35,000 families and over 71,000 children each year. Almost 16,000 volunteers visit families in their own homes - parents supporting other parents in a variety of situations including isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness or disability.

Back to Top