The festive season is about togetherness, having fun and enjoying each other’s company over something tasty to eat. That’s what the team at Colchester’s Firstsite believe, so once again they’re set to welcome local families with their fabulous Holiday Fun programme through the December school holiday.
Designed and delivered in partnership with African Families in the UK, Bangladeshi Women’s Association Essex, Refugee Asylum Seeker & Migrant Action, there are loads of fun and creative things to do inspired by the gallery’s current art exhibitions and the festive season, including making colourful cardboard Christmas decorations to add extra sparkle and shine at home with artists Nicola Burrell and Mary Pullen Deacon.
Firstsite’s Holiday Fun activities are for families facing economic challenges or who require additional support during the school holidays, including those that qualify for benefits-based free school meals. The activities have all been designed to be most suitable for children aged between 4 and 11 years, but all ages are most welcome.
Holiday Fun includes sports and movement activities, such as drumming, Afromoves family dance and street dance sessions, available between 10:45-11:45am and 12-1pm on each day of the programme. Having worked up an appetite, every child and their accompanying adults can enjoy a delicious hot meal made freshly each day. Vegetarian and vegan meals will be available every day and all dishes are Halal.
The menu changes daily, with a truly international choice of dishes, featuring classics like Jerk Chicken with Jollof rice and fried plantain, Beef Lasagne with a side of garlic bread or Tomato and Vegetable Pasta Bake, Tepsi Zozo Lahm, a traditional Iraqi beef, lamb, tomato and aubergine-based casserole that is simple, yet rich and deeply satisfying. Alternatively, there’s a meat-free version available, Tepsi Zozo. For afters there’s a selection of delicious desserts to dive into, all freshly made and featuring seasonal ingredients.
Sue Hogan, Firstsite’s Programme Manager, Learning and Education says: “Supporting local families who are facing financial challenges has never been more important to us, especially now that the cost-of-living crisis is affecting so many people. Since we launched Holiday Fun five years ago, Firstsite has provided over 15,000 meals. Demand has increased dramatically over the past few holidays, so we have increased our capacity to help support as many families as we can. We are hugely grateful to all our supporters and partner organisations who provide funding and donate their time, expertise and materials to deliver projects like this.”
Sue adds: “Firstsite is always a fun, free to visit, safe and warm place to come and relax with your family. And there’s a real buzz in the building during Holiday Fun with lots of local families enjoying all the different activities we have organised. If you’ve never been before, but would like to come along, book on and our friendly team will ensure you have a lovely day full of great food, and fun movement and art activities. There’s nothing to pay to take part and hot meals are completely free for the whole family.”
All sports and movement activities and meals must be booked in advance. Early Bird tickets are available right now via the Firstsite website – www.firstsite.uk – or by calling 01206 713 700. Due to the popularity of the Holiday Fun Programme, early booking is advised as spaces are limited. However, more tickets will be released three days before each individual session takes place.
Please note that the art activities are run on a drop-in basis, so there is no need to pre-book. Parents and caregivers are required to stay on site throughout all activities.
