Life Seeker launched their Fresh Air Fun Days in June, with an event at Scolton Manor, in conjunction with Value Independence and Norman Industries.

The ‘fun day’ event involved a leisurely walk around the grounds, with time to chat and stop for photos, to enjoy the views, followed by the opportunity to take part in outdoor and indoor games including target shooting, soft archery and badminton. There was also a range of accessible bikes available for use, to enjoy around the many pathways in the grounds. The tagline for the event was ‘because you’re never too old to play outside’ noting the importance of getting fresh air and having fun in the outdoors. Check out the Instagram Reel here.

The sports activities were on offer courtesy of Norman Industries, a supported business which employs more than 60 people with a disability or work limited condition. As well as providing paid supported employment, Norman Industries also offers work experience, training and a work-based day service to people with a disability or work limiting health condition.

Value Independence CIC also supported the event with provision of adaptive bikes and a taster of their target shooting club seeing disabled people from across the community joining in with the fun and games.

The range of activities will be available at Scolton Manor throughout the year, with only a small charge for accessible bike hire and other sports equipment.

The Fresh Air Fun Day, which was created as a result of the pandemic and ongoing isolation in the community, saw a good turn out with many enjoying the walk and activities on offer.

Stephen, one of the participants in the Fresh Air Fun Day at Scolton Manor said,

‘I enjoyed and found the Scolton Manor playday earlier today to be most beneficial. Thank you to everyone involved in making the day a success. I love nature + photography. It helps me a lot with my ‘issues’.

The event was supported by a small fund of £2,000 from the Western Power Distribution Community Matters Fund and invites the community to join Life seeker over the next 6-8 months, to adventure outside and enjoy slow paced walks with some added fun extras. This might include capturing a journey by photograph, storytelling, archery or getting creative on a local beach.

Life Seeker have hosted many free funded live well events in the past including walking photography workshops, an African drumming workshop, a being coached with horses taster, weekly winter walk and chinwag, community gardening and creative workshops such as tin craft and furniture making. The Fresh Air Fun Days are an extension of these events, aiming to support people in the community to reconnect, reduce loneliness, meet new friends, learn new skills and to get fresh air as well as having fun. Things which we really need but often take for granted in our busy adult lives.

The feedback from past events has been really positive, with a regular group of Seekers taking part as well as many new faces joining in with the activities.

One regular participant said, “I’ve been to several Life Seeker events and they are all run really well. I’ve learnt skills I will happily use again. Thank you, this is a much needed provision.”

Rachel Mullet, who helped out with the walking photography event commented, “What a fantastic group of lovely photographers. I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon.”

The events also contribute to the community directly, aside from the impact they have on those involved. The wood seat making workshop saw 10 participants making 10 seats, all in a unique style, for future use by visitors to Haverhub.

Life Seeker noted, “It’s nice that makers will be able to spot their seat in use the next time they visit Haverhub.”

The need for such events in the local community is supported by the fact that past events have been fully or oversubscribed. An attendee of the tin can upcycling workshop said, “Please put on more events like this. It is so important for local communities”.

Sally, CEO of Life Seeker, said of the Fresh Air Fun Days project,

“We are delighted to host Fresh Air Fun Days and look forward to seeing current and new Seekers socially reconnect, move more, feel less isolated, build confidence and take away practical tools for living a more sustainable lifestyle. 

You’re never too old to play in the outdoors, join us to find out for yourself!”

The second Fresh Air Fun Day saw Seekers join participants of the ‘Roots to Recovery project’ hosted by Mind Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority on Nolton Beach for fun learning about rockpool life and sandcastle building.

In future, the next steps for Life Seeker involve being more present in the local community and working closely with people to have a direct impact on their wellbeing. Watch this space!

Find out more and reserve your place for the next Fresh Air Fun Day, watch events being added here.  

Find out more about the Roots to Recovery project here.

To borrow bikes and sports equipment plus many other items, visit the Pembrokeshire Circle Library of Things

To find out more about adaptive bikes, target shooting and other services for people with disabilities, visit the Value Independence CIC website.