Wilmslow nursery’s annual summer festival raises thousands for vulnerable children and families

Families, friends and members of the local community came together once again for Bright Horizons Clairmont Nursery and Preschool’s annual Summer Festival, raising over £1,000 for the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.

First launched in 2018 as a way to bring nursery families together for a fun evening, the festival has grown year on year into a much-anticipated community event. Today, alongside nursery children and their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends and local residents all come together to enjoy an evening of entertainment while supporting an important cause. 

Since the festival began, Bright Horizons Clairmont has raised an estimated £800 to £1,000 each year for the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, meaning the event has generated approximately £7,200 to £9,000 over the years.  

The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, established in 2005, supports vulnerable children and families experiencing trauma, including domestic violence, abuse, homelessness, parental imprisonment and ill health. Through its Bright Space programme, the Foundation creates safe, nurturing environments where vulnerable children and families affected by trauma can play, learn and build resilience. 

Each year, the festival introduces new attractions to keep the event fresh and engaging for the local community. Alongside traditional homemade games including a coconut shy, hook-a-duck, hoopla, tin can alley and splat the rat, families have enjoyed a barbecue, pick and mix, bottle and chocolate tombolas, a cake stall, bubble station, face painting, photo booth and a popular mega raffle featuring prizes generously donated by local businesses. 

The festival also showcases local organisations and businesses, with previous years welcoming stalls from independent traders and taster sessions from children's activity providers including Baby Ballet and Pyjama Drama. This year's event featured a live performance from local vocalist – and nursery parent – Sadie Pickering, while previous festivals have even included pony and donkey visits. 

One of the festival's most popular attractions is the annual Parent Bake Off, where families create homemade cakes that are judged before being sold to raise additional funds for the Foundation. 

Families purchase play passes to enjoy the homemade games, with children receiving prizes from the nursery's prize bucket, while proceeds from the raffle, food stalls, tombolas and other activities all contribute towards the fundraising total. 

Angela, Nursery Manager at Bright Horizons Clairmont Day Nursery and Preschool, said: "When we first started the Summer Festival in 2018, our aim was simply to bring our nursery families together for a fun evening. It's wonderful to see how much it has grown over the years into a real community celebration, with extended families, friends and local residents all joining us. 

"Every year we look for new ways to make the festival even more exciting while continuing to raise money for the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children. We're incredibly grateful to our families, local businesses and everyone who supports the event. Their generosity helps us make a real difference to vulnerable children and families, while creating lasting memories for our own nursery community." 

The Summer Festival continues to be one of the highlights of the nursery calendar, with almost every Bright Horizons Clairmont family attending each year, alongside their invited friends and relatives, creating a vibrant community event that fills the nursery gardens. 

Find out more about Bright Horizons Clairmont Day Nursery and Preschool and book a tour here, or visit https://brightspaces.org.uk/ to find out more about the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.