Summer Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) 2023
Article Written:Predominantly funded by, and in partnership with The Hubb Foundation, this summer we have been able to provide a variety of family activities, fun days and trips for local families. This has enabled us to provide over 1100 new experiences, and over 300 individuals have received multiple meals through the holidays.
Family Activities
Meet the Animals
To kick off the summer, 41 people joined us at Harper Street and took the plunge interacting with a variety of animals brought along by The Unconventional Menagerie, families also took part in games and went on a fact finding trail around the community.
Farm on Wheels
We had our Farm on Wheels activity in Middleport Park where 53 people attended. The families got to meet farmyard animals including a lamb, calf, chicks, rabbits and geese, and also take part in craft activities and a farmyard fact trail around the park.
Family Fun Days
Canalside Fun Day
For our first big event of the summer, over 350 people joined us to enjoy activities at our Family Fun Day in Middleport Park.
Through our partnership with Appetite Stoke we had performances throughout the day from “The Flying Dodo’s” by Thingumajig Theatre Company which were a fantastic addition to the day. We were also joined by Stoke City Community Trust & Port Vale Foundation Trust who brought along their mascots, Boomer and Pottermiss, and provided sport & games for families.
Children and their families could enjoy free activities including meeting owls from Majestic Owls, enjoying inflatable zorbs and an assault course, getting their face painted, and enjoyed a variety of lawn games. We also created clay faces together with clay provided by Middleport Pottery and everyone went home with a book donated by Stoke Reads.
Even though we got off to a drizzly start, everyone had a great day.
Lovely, lovely day, thanks to Vicki and all her hard working team for all your efforts 👌 and planning , well done.
Thankyou for all your hard work. We especially loved the Dodos 🦤 they were just magical!
Colour Carnival
This year we hosted our very first Colour Carnival, joined by many partners who provided activities to make the day that bit more special. Thanks to Canal & River Trust, Stoke City Community Trust, Port Vale Foundation Trust and The Endon Storm Troopers, we were able to provide sports & games, mascots and canoeing. Families could also enjoy inflatable Zorbs/assault course and slides, circus skills, face painting, lawn games all for free, and could purchase some treats from Chase’s Sweets.
Stoke Reads supplied us with over 400 books which were distributed to local children to encourage reading and Middleport Pottery provided clay which we distributed to families to get creative.
Over 400 people joined us in Middleport Park to enjoy the event and over 300 people took part in the colour run, where people of all ages enjoyed being covered in environmentally friendly colour powder.
Thank you for today. It really was a fantastic day. The girls were asking before we even left the field when the next one is on.
You guys are fantastic for all that you do for the community. Another awesome event. Well done & thank you
Today we worked alongside the amazing team from Middleport Matters Community Trust. There small, but very efficient team offered so much to everyone who attended, great activities, support with free meals through The Hubb Foundation, and the amazing colour run.
Absolutely couldn’t resist having a go of the colour run today! Such great fun 🌈
Thank you MMCT for inviting us to this fantastic event we always have so much fun when we partner up with you.
Trips For Young People
Stanley Head
27 children and young people aged 9+ had a fantastic day taking part in outdoor activities at Stanley Head Outdoor Education Centre… these sessions help the young people to improve team work, build confidence and gives them an opportunity to connect with the outdoors.
Ninja Warrior
39 young people aged 10+ attended Ninja Warrior and had a fantastic time bouncing, climbing, jumping and sliding at the indoor assault course. Everyone was exhausted by the time we came home but had a lovely energetic morning.
Stoke Ski Centre
We took 32 children and young people aged 9+ to Stoke Ski centre where they got to have a go at skiing and tubing. The over 10s also all got to go on the adrenaline tubing which they thought was amazing!
Thank you so much for today they really enjoyed it, adrenaline tubing is all we have heard about all day.
Horse Riding at Lodge Farm
11 young people aged 10+ had the opportunity to try out horse riding, and see a different side to the city. Everyone had a fantastic morning and enjoyed meeting all of the beautiful horses and ponies.
I’ve never been horse riding before and never ever thought I would get to go. Thank you so much, it’s been the best day.
Family Day Trips
33 people came along to our trip to Trentham Gardens. It was a lovely day out and a really good example of “it takes a village to raise a child”. The families who attended showed real community spirit and helped each other out through the day. Everyone who came had an amazing time and no one wanted to leave!
Trentham Gardens
Thank you for a lovely day … One of the best days out with the kids …. Thank you for all that you do for us.
Drayton Manor Park & Zoo
43 people had an amazing opportunity to visit Drayton Manor Park – it was lovely to see everyone encouraging each other and having some family fun.
Thank you for the amazing day, the kids and I had the best day … Thank you for letting us be a part of this amazing day and for helping me make great memories for my family.
BewilderWood
Bewilderwood provided families the opportunity to get a little wild and enjoy the magic of the outdoors. 39 people attended and although it was wet and muddy, everyone loved seeing the magical fairy houses, digging in the sand, swinging on ziplines and building dens.
I haven’t been able to afford to take my kids anywhere this summer so this trip has really made their day. They had the best day there and couldn’t stop talking about it all evening. Thank you so much to the team.
Thank you to our partners, funders, volunteers, staff team, activity providers and of course to all of those who attended our summer events and activities.
None of this would be possible without everyone working together to make this happen.
If anyone has any photos, feedback or suggestions for events/activities please get in touch with the team on 01782 817590, message us on Facebook, or email info@middleportmatters.co.uk
