Hundreds of youngsters from across Basingstoke celebrated the end of the town's biggest summer activity programme on Friday.
After a month packed with more than 40 activities, the finale of Sentinel Housing Association’s Get With project, run in partnership with Everest Community College, brought together families from across the district for a fun day and barbecue, with inflatable rides, face painting and live music.
Sentinel neighbourhood manager Melissa Chapman said: “With the cost of living on the rise we’re really pleased that we’ve been able to help so many local families keep their kids entertained over the last month. It’s only by working together with Everest Community College and our other partners that we’re able to provide such a diverse and high quality programme of events.
“We’ve had over 600 children through the doors in the last four weeks, enjoying some great activities like designing their own computer games, street dance, roller hockey, and even sessions with the Reading FC Soccer School. Older teens had a chance to brush up their skills in practical sessions like baby sitting, film making and CSI forensics.”
Get With was started by Sentinel after complaints about large numbers of children roaming around estates with nothing to do during the summer holidays. Since then, it’s grown each year, and is now the biggest summer youth project in the county.
Everest community manager John Perrin said: “It’s hard to believe it’s all over, the last four weeks have flown by. We’ve had some great feedback from kids and parents which makes all the hard work and planning worthwhile. Working together like this gives us the chance to offer a great programme of fun activities in a safe and secure environment. We certainly seem to have a hit on a winning formula.”
