On Saturday 14th September 2019 Bracknell residents enjoyed a family fun afternoon to celebrate 80 years of the national Citizens Advice service. Thankfully the sun shone on us all at Great Hollands Recreation Ground and residents and supporters enjoyed an afternoon of family fun, organised by a small but trusty team of staff and volunteers for Citizens Advice Bracknell & District.

The new Great Hollands pavilion building and recreation ground was a great space for the activities, refreshments and entertainment lined up for the event! We were also delighted that the Mayor of Bracknell Forest Council, Councillor Pauline McKenzie and her consort Roy McKenzie, opened the party and gave their support to the volunteers and staff at Citizens Advice, telling everyone about the work of the charity and the impressive numbers of people helped over the previous year.

Chief Executive Officer, Tina Stevenson, thanked all those who had helped with and attended the event and encouraged everyone to enter the prize raffle and tombolas, as well as doing the odd bit of dancing.

Delicious cream teas, cakes and refreshments were served by the First Crown Wood Brownies and First Priestwood Guides.  Guests could try their hand at making a seed ‘bomb’ thanks to the help of the Bracknell Forest Council Park Ranger, or get their face painted.

The local Police Community Support Officers were on hand to talk about their work and their van was a great hit with younger attendees. The bravest could cuddle up with a lizard or snake at Bracknell Reptile Encounters.  Wayz’s bouncy castle and Fusion Bus meant there was something for everyone, with additional entertainment provided by Qiu’s Tai Chi Academy and the excellent Souls Work Duo band.  BM Active compered the event and were a great centrepiece, encouraging everyone to get involved and with many of the crowd into joining in a conga for which Brian Murphy the Director, very generously donated much needed funds.

One local resident commented: “My kids are having a great time. It’s free to come along and good to see people supporting a local charity.’

Over £1,000 was raised for Citizen’s Advice Bracknell & District, made possible in part by generous sponsorship from Asda (Lower Earley) and the party was also an opportunity to celebrate with the local community and promote their really important work and to recruit new volunteers to support this.

Citizen’s Advice Bracknell & District is very grateful for support from Bracknell Town Council, Involve Community Services, Wayz Berkshire Youth and BM Active, as well as to the local community organisations, shops, restaurants and businesses that provided the cakes and raffle prizes.

“We are a local charity which provides help and assistance to around three thousand residents a year and we are working hard to make our service even more accessible for local people. We are reliant on grants, donations and fundraising to provide these services, so if you feel you could help and want to get involved please have a look at our website www.citizensadvicebracknell.org.uk or contact Liz Yates by phone on 01344 418998 or by email: fundraising @bracknellcab.org.uk.

Plans are already being made for the next event ….