In summer 2010, I started “Summer Fun in Ruddington”, which provided FREE holiday play activities in our village. This was only possible with the support of Sure Start, Georgina Ratcliffe, who worked for us2gether (a project that supported schools’ extended services) and the Parish Council.
The response to the sessions was amazing and residents asked for more. Consequently, I put out a plea for volunteers and in February 2011, seven of us met and “Ruddington Fun” was formed.
Our aim was to: “Provide, either directly or through partnership with other organisations, school holiday activities and events for children, young people and families within Ruddington.”
Over the years we’ve provided a variety of activities. We’ve also included our “mature” residents on Older People’s Day, supported community events by providing craft activities and even celebrated the village tradition of walking the wall around St Peter’s Rooms to celebrate the Olympics in 2016!
Our resources were funded by the generosity of our Borough and County Councillors, the Co-op Local Community Fund, East Midlands Airport, Veolia and the Parish Council. The resources have also been loaned to various village events and organisations to make use of.
Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, “Ruddington Fun” will no longer provide activities. The main reasons are that my health is unpredictable and the other volunteers have various work and family commitments.
When I started the concept there was very little happening in our community in terms of play activities; now there is. This is proved by the entries in the diary of activities we produced each year.
I will maintain our Facebook page to keep alerting families to what’s happening in the locality.
I would like to thank everyone who’s supported us in any way and, in particular, the Parish Council for their help with providing venues.
I trust you have all had Fun in Ruddington…and will continue to do so.
Barbara Breakwell and the Ruddington Fun Team (past and present)