Safe Communities, Strong Families Fun Day

The event attracted 313 attendees from across Barry and was supported by 15 local volunteers, who assisted with activities, refreshments, stewarding and first aid provision. Activities included a bouncy castle, martial arts demonstrations, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon modelling and games, creating an enjoyable and inclusive atmosphere for attendees of all ages.

Organisations taking part included South Wales Police, Safer Vale, CUBE, Barry Rotary Club, Valedas and Good to Talk Therapeutic Mentoring. To encourage interaction with support services, a “passport challenge” invited attendees to visit at least five information stands and collect stickers before entering a prize draw. This proved extremely popular, with 112 completed passports, demonstrating a high level of engagement.

Community Impact

The event successfully created opportunities for residents to connect with community organisations and access information about local support. The passport challenge encouraged meaningful conversations between attendees and service providers, helping people learn more about the support available to them and their families. Partner organisations reported strong levels of engagement and highlighted the value of delivering information in a relaxed and welcoming community setting.

The Safer Vale Community Safety Team engaged with approximately 50 families, providing advice on a range of community safety matters and distributing around 20 personal safety alarms. The team also promoted wider community safety initiatives and online resources, helping residents understand how to report concerns, access information and stay informed about local issues.

Rebecca Lane, Safer Vale, commented:

“Overall, the team felt the event was highly worthwhile and it was very positive to see so many members of the community coming together and enjoying the day.”

CUBE reported 11 direct enquiries during the event, distributed 30 information packs and subsequently received a further 10 enquiries regarding family and children’s services. Increased demand following the event led to additional support programmes being brought forward earlier than planned.

Tammi Owens, CUBE, said:

“Thank you for inviting us and we look forward to supporting this and any other family events in the future.”

Audience Reach

Whilst Cadog’s Corner serves the Cadoxton community, the event attracted residents from across Barry.

Based on observations and discussions with attendees:

• Approximately 65% of attendees were from the Cadoxton area and associated school community.
• Around 25% travelled from other parts of Barry, including families linked to local schools such as Gladstone, Jenner Park and St Curig.
• Around 10% were visitors whose connection to the area was unknown.
• Approximately 25% of attendees were grandparents or older relatives attending with children.
• Around 20% of attendees were fathers, grandfathers or other male carers.

The event was widely promoted through partner organisations, community groups and local social media channels, helping to extend its reach beyond the immediate neighbourhood.

Residents provided positive feedback about both the activities and the opportunity to meet local organisations:

“I didn’t know these services existed and wouldn’t have reached out myself. What a fantastic day, you’ve pulled out all the stops for us and our children.”

“I came along for the children, but I spoke to some of the teams there and took information home for a friend. It proves there is help and support available.”

Conclusion

The Safe Communities, Strong Families Family Fun Day successfully combined family entertainment with community engagement, creating a welcoming environment that supported residents to learn more about support available in Barry. Strong attendance figures, positive partner feedback and substantial engagement with support organisations demonstrate that this type of community-led event can play an important role in strengthening community resilience, improving awareness of local services and supporting safer, more connected neighbourhoods across Barry.