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We arrived to an elegant, still and silent room at Escott House but before too long the room was filled with chatter and hubbub as 70 carers and children arrived for the Family Day. Laser tag was a real hit with all. Other fun-packed activities on offer were a ‘build your ideal space in a shoe box’ activity, rock painting for the NFA #Bemyrock campaign, t-shirt and tote bag painting, and unlimited visits to Wildwood – a brilliant nature based centre at Escott House.
As the names of the first group for Laser tag were called out the anticipation was palpable – and the first group ran off excitedly to their 1 hour session. They arrived back rosy cheeked, hot and clammy, with tales of ‘derring-do’! (Hats off to Ann – our social worker who went knee deep into wet grass to play the willing ‘target’!)
Adults and children painted some superb rocks for our #Bemyrock campaign which are now hidden in North Devon – but not too well because we want them to be found by potential rocks in the form of foster carers. Creativity flowed all day – one favourite ‘space in a shoe box’ had a swimming pool and diving board complete with an astro turf lawn. Lunch arrived and disappeared in a ‘nano-second’ and the second laser tag group dawdled away (not!) for their turn.
Painted t-shirts and tote bags told us how children and young people felt about or during their Escott day – expressions as individual as the artist. Within all the fun there was a serious intention to capture the views and feedback of children and young people – giving voice in how we support and engage with them.
As tea time approached our amazing carers and children headed home tired but happy and the room resumed its former silent elegance again but with an echo of fun. ‘That….we agreed……was a really great day!