Features
and Review
Furzeham
Fun Day
This
year's family fun day out at Furzeham Green was created by
Brixham's Young Volunteers using a very limited budget and
plenty of personal effort to engage the crowds in the entertainment
they helped to provide.
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On
Saturday 24th July the all day event included many imported
attractions such as the Rock Climbing Wall, Emma's Donkeys and
inflatable bouncy castles, whilst the Young Volunteers introduced
many traditional games such as ‘Guess the Bear's name', Hoopla
and the extremely popular Hook a Duck. Whilst a constant queue
of young people waited to have their face painted, others enjoying
getting their nails done. Many joined in with the handicrafts
which consisted of making felt purses by thoroughly soaking
strands of coloured wool and matting them together through vigorous
rubbing. |
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Throughout
the afternoon there was live music with performances by Colin
Bache, Jamie Duffield's who included Fly me to the Moon and
several other swing classics, and local bands Fire for Effect
(who started with a Foo Fighters cover), Take Me to the City,
Public Meeting singing ‘Smile for a while' amongst others and
Ricky and the Pigeons. Much of this musical talent has been
nurtured by Brixham's YES- Youth Enquires Service through music
workshops they provide. These have brought together musicians
who have gone on to form bands and teach the new younger workshop
members before heading off to college. Audiences enjoyed burgers
and other refreshments served up by the Young Volunteers whilst
listening to the performances. |
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About
30 Young Volunteers were present and they had taken 4 months
to organise the event with the support of staff from Brixham's
YES- Youth Enquiries Service and Ros Lomas. Chairperson of YES
Andrew Wade said,” We are very proud of the Young Volunteers
who come along every week and do so many useful projects.” He
described how every Friday evening members of the group are
involved in helping to restore a few local peoples' gardens.
Having identified several people with a special need for help
they have transformed some of their properties revealing sheds
and green houses were once they had been overrun with greenery.
Andrew said,” All the ideas for projects come from them we just
try to facilitate them.” The Young Volunteers also run the Christmas
Grotto each year for children in the town and organise and host
the Brix Awards each spring, which celebrates the achievements
of local young people.” |
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| Brixham Youth Enquires -YES is also
in the process of looking for new premises and at the Fun Day
they were surveying young people asking for their views on the
possibility of YES moving from its present building on New Road
to the old United Reformed Church on Bolton Street. The possibility
of renting this property and creating the ‘Bolthole' would mean
YES could offer even more workshops and activities for young people,
together with the opportunity of accommodation in the much larger
space. Young people were asked the questions: Will you visit the
Bolthole if we move? And what's most important to you about YES?
Many posted their responses straight away in the container provided
and one comment already collected said, 'YES is an amazing resource
and a great place to hang out with your mates. It's like having
a second home. Love it! Would continue to use it if it moved.'
YES Project Manager Chris Guy said, ”We really need somewhere
bigger, with 30 Young Volunteers and more wanting to join we are
finding it cramped to accommodate them at the present location.
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At the end of the day the Young
Volunteers all joined in to dance with Ricky and the Pigeons,
almost collapsing the stage as they enjoyed ‘Stomp' and brought
a great day out to a close with a ‘brilliant finale.' |
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Features
and Reviews 
