Over 3,000 people spent an afternoon of fun at Jewish Care’s Family Fun Day on Sunday, which made a roaring return after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19.
Families from the local community basked in the glorious sunshine at the event held at Aldenham Country Park Events Field to raise money to help enhance the lives of residents at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House care home, which is part of Sandringham.
Parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and friends enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment, taking part in activities from Zorbing, a climbing tower and Laser Quest for older children to train rides, chair-o-planes, bungee trampolines, inflatables and soft play for younger children.
Face-painting at Jewish Care's Family Fun Day (Photo by Grainge Photography)
There was also face-painting for younger children, as well as an arts and crafts area.
Local schools also participated in the festivities, with Clore Shalom and Kerem School, as well as Dancing with Louise and Vanessa Class School of Dance delighting the gathered crowds with a range of performances.
Vanessa Feltz, BBC Radio London broadcaster and journalist, attended the event with her daughters and grandchildren. She said that it was a “magnificent day”, adding: “Beautifully organised and so much fun for all the family.”
Dancing with Louise performers delighting the crowds (Photo by Grainge Photography)
Many families with close relatives who have benefitted from Jewish Care’s services attended the event to help raise further funds for the organisation, which reaches 10,000 every week. Gemma Sinai, whose uncle lives at a Jewish Care home, said that she was “really pleased to support the charity,” adding: “It’s been a really fun day and so well organised. It’s really nice to see everyone from the community get together.”
Sisters, Liliana, 10 and Ariella, 8, also had a great day out: “It was really cool. The trampolines, tea cups and climbing tower were really fun and I really liked the food,” and their brother, Sammy, age 6 added, “I liked the police car and shows, we had a lot of fun.”
Fun on the teacups (Photo by Grainge Photography)
Speaking after the event, Amy Woolf, Chair Jewish Care Families and Jewish Care Trustee, said: “I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard, all of our volunteers and also everyone who came along to support us to make it such a great success.
"We’re pleased that the funds we’ve raised will help to enhance the lives of the residents at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House at Sandringham.”
She added in praise of the organisation’s staff: “During Covid-19 pandemic, especially before we had the vaccine, the carers and housekeeping team selflessly put the resident’s wellbeing and safety before their own every day and the staff’s love, care and dedication to the residents’ across Jewish Care is inspiring for us all.”
Jewish Care CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown (Photo: Grainge Photography)
Adam Overlander-Kaye, Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising and Community Engagement, added: “Huge thanks to the committee, all the volunteers and professional team for their hard work in making the day such a success.
"Thank you to all the schools who took part and to all those across the whole community for supporting the event and making it the biggest one ever.”
