Spectrum Autism Friendly Festival, which is held annually at Lea Green has received ‘Best New Accessible Event’ at the Accessible Derbyshire awards.
Here’s a photo of Chris and David (PeaksGo) accepting the award!
Category Archives: Events
Children in Need 2017
On Friday 17th November 2017 the team raised funds for BBC Children in Need. There was an eclectic mix of fancy dress from Oompa Loompas to a frog and some ravers who were reliving the 80s.
It’s a Lea Green tradition to have a charity bakeoff and the team lovingly produced some great quality cakes including some Pudsey faces and a Queen of Heart’s themed cake from apprentice Kelsey who dressed as Alice in Wonderland.
Through donations for wearing fancy dress and raffle tickets to win cakes from the bakeoff, the team are pleased to announce they raised £200 for BBC Children in Need!
Crowds joined us for Family Funfest 2017
The team at Lea Green Centre successfully organised sunshine for ‘Family Funfest’ on Sunday 16th July, an event which saw over 300 visitors through the gates to take part in a variety of outdoor activities. Visitors who had made a saving by pre-booking arrived bright and early for the opening at 10am and wristbands were used for an authentic festival feel. Visitors travelled from as far as Sheffield and Burton on Trent including some groups arriving by minibus like Peak School.
Popular activities on the day included; the low ropes course, archery, bouldering in the cave, soft play, bushcraft and the high adrenaline activities like team swing and climbing tower. External suppliers who helped make the event a great start to the summer for families included; circus skills act Chango Fuego who was teaching children to walk on stilts and juggle, an inflatable castle and slide and Bugs ‘N’ Bones who gave people the opportunity to hold a snake or tarantula amongst other creatures! Lots of visitors took the chance to have their face painted, get a relaxing hand massage with Jo from Weleda skincare company and for refreshments there was a BBQ running on the day as well as lots of picnics taking place in shady spots.
Family Funfest acts as a showcase of Lea Green Centre and gives people a taster of activities at an affordable price. Visitors had the chance to find out about parties that can be booked at the centre, ask staff about team-building programmes, sign up for future bushcraft events and have a look around Meadow Lodge, the on-site accessible accommodation.
The team have received the following comments on the Lea Green Centre Facebook page:
- “It was a fantastic day. First time we have been and would highly recommend it. Thank you for all the team’s hard work.”
- “It was fantastic! We were sorry to leave at the end. All your team were so helpful and friendly. Thank you so much. A great day and well done for organising such nice weather.”
- “What a fantastic day, for working parents it has been a real joy to be able to participate with children and have lots of fun.”
Keep an eye out for the next big event at Lea Green Centre!
Adventurer Bear Grylls visited us for Cubs day!
Adventurer and Chief Scout Bear Grylls visited us on Saturday 16th May to join more than 300 Derbyshire Cub Scouts on their activity fun day.
Bear arrived via helicopter to have photographs taken with visitors, sign autographs and took on the adrenaline rush of our team swing with Scout Adam Hardy, of Chesterfield, who said: “That was a great experience, Bear is one of my heroes and to have shared the swing with him was great”.
More than 100 Scout groups were represented at the event, which also included buggies, climbing, teamwork exercises and campfire cooking.
Bear took the time to speak with Vice Chair of Derbyshire County Council Janet Hill who thanked him for attending on behalf of the young people who were clearly thrilled to meet with their hero. Councillor Hill said; “I was part of the volunteer team for the Disability Rocks festival which took place here recently and am once again delighted to see so many children and young people enjoying the activities on offer here and the wealth of opportunities this Derbyshire County Council centre provides.”
Tom Stoddart, County Commissioner for Derbyshire Scout Association said of Lea Green Centre: “Brilliant place to hold a large scale event. Friendly staff who could not do enough for us. Great day.”
Steven Judge, Cub Scout Leader and Local Media Relations Support Officer with The Scout Association, summed up the day for us: “It has been a great day for everyone involved and Bear took plenty of time to pose and speak with almost everyone who was here.”
View some photos in the ‘Events’ album in our Gallery
See coverage from the day on BBC East Midlands Today here