THIS summer, the Family Information Service’s ‘Summer of Fun’ initiative made a significant impact on the local community, offering a wide range of free activities and services designed to bring families together and create lasting memories.

What made these events truly special was that members of the public played a key role in deciding the locations for many of the activities, ensuring the programme reached areas most in need and reflected the wishes of local families.

In response to public feedback requesting more events, the Family Information Service is excited to announce a Halloween Pumpkin Trail taking place over October Half Term, inviting families to take part in a spooky scavenger hunt in Neyland Marina with pumpkins decorated by local school children.

More information on the trail can be found on the Family Information Service’s Facebook page in the coming days.

In the summer families had the chance to select venues close to home, ensuring that the events were convenient and accessible to everyone.

As a result, activities were spread across central locations such as schools, leisure centres, and community halls, bringing events closer to the communities they were meant to serve.

By letting families guide the decision-making process, the initiative not only boosted participation but also fostered a deeper sense of ownership and involvement in the community.

Steven Richards-Downes, Director for Education, said: “We are thrilled with the success of our Free Family Fun Days held across the county this summer. The overwhelming participation and positive feedback from over 700 children, young people, and families highlight the importance of community-driven events.

“We are especially proud to have distributed over 800 healthy snack pots. We look forward to organising more of these events in the future, bringing families together and fostering a sense of community.”

The Summer of Fun provided free food and a host of activities for families of all sizes and ages. From arts and crafts to sports and swimming, there was something for everyone. Local Leisure Centres, chosen by the community, became lively hubs for the events, utilising existing offers to provide diverse activities that families could continue to enjoy long after the summer fun had ended.

Milford Youth Matters in Milford Haven and Point Youth in Fishguard lent their support to ensure that families in those areas enjoyed a full range of activities, while Public Health Wales provided healthy food throughout the events. These partnerships, along with collaborations with local businesses, further expanded the programme’s offerings, giving families a wide variety of options for fun and engagement.

Eleanor Thomas, Family Information Service Officer, said: “We are delighted to have provided a wide range of free activities for families across Pembrokeshire. These events were a fantastic opportunity for children and parents to come together, enjoy quality time and create lasting memories.

“It is our pleasure to support our community with accessible and engaging activities that bring joy and enrichment to so many families.

“We’re excited to continue offering more events, such as our upcoming Halloween Pumpkin Trail, and look forward to creating even more memorable experiences for everyone involved.”

Pembrokeshire Family Information Service will also be sharing their popular “What’s On” guide on their Facebook page to ensure families have a range of activities to take part in across the county over Half Term. Members of the public and activity providers are encouraged to tag the Family Information Service in social media posts of any family friendly activities they’d like to promote through the page.

To stay up to date on upcoming events and activities, you can follow the Family Information Service’s Facebook page on facebook.com/PembsFIS.
You can also check out the What’s On Guide for each half term to discover even more fun-filled opportunities for your family.