Liverpool charity Big Help Project brought the royal celebrations right into the heart of the community this jubilee weekend, with a Family Fun Day held at their Boaler Street offices in Kensington.
Their charity’ Hope House headquarters welcomed the best of Liverpool’s multi-cultural arts, food, entertainment and cultural scene including the Ibijoke Children’s Foundation Kensington, new friends from the Ukrainian community, and a special appearance from Southport F.C. Mascot Sandy the Lion who met fans and posed for pictures. Ibijoke and Victor from the Ibijoke Children’s Foundation, Liverpool Homeless Football Club food van The Back Kitchen, Ste Bolger’s bakery and Made With Love catering provided free food stalls showcasing Nigerian, Chinese, Indian and British cuisines.
Attractions included games, face-painting, cake decorating, beat-the-goalie, card-making and close-up magic by Magic Circle member Sirus. Entertainment featured a stunning performance by Irish Dancers Bolger Cunningham Dance School, live music from local band Cahoots, and DJ sets from local DJ Jordan Moussavi, before closing with a children’s dance competition led by Frozen’s Queen Elsa.
The event was honoured with the attendance of the Queen’s representative the High Sheriff of Merseyside Ms Lesley-Martin Wright JP, and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool the Right Worshipful Cllr Roy Gladden who both joined CEO of Big Help Project Peter Mitchell for a tour of Hope House, the home of the Big Help Project since April 2021.
Ms Lesley Martin-Wright said:
“it was an honour to represent her Majesty today at the Big Help Jubilee Family Fun Day. The Big Help Project has achieved remarkable things over the past decade, and I look forward to supporting them during my year in office as they continue their work in eradicating poverty for people in the city and beyond.”
Speaking at the close of the day’s festivities, Peter Mitchell said
“I am delighted and proud that our first Big Help Project Family Fun Day was such a great success. Like Kensington in London, our Kensington is rich in cultural diversity, talent and community spirit, and it was fantastic for everyone come together not only to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, but to celebrate this community that the Big Help is proud to call the home of our national headquarters. We believe that our Kensington has as much to offer as it’s London namesake, and we will continue to do everything we can to make sure people in Liverpool’s Kensington can have the same hopes for the future as their London counterparts.”
A guest that attended from Big Helps Ukrainian community added
“Thank you very much to you and the Help Project for this celebration and for supporting for all Ukrainians. You are incredible and you do incredible things! Thank you again for your work and kind heart.”
The Big Help Project runs a range of projects supporting people with accessing training, education and employment, managing personal debt, welfare rights advice and high-quality housing. To find out more please go to www.bighelpproject.com or contact the office on 0151 482 6089.