Wandsworth Council, in partnership with Enable, Battersea Summer Scheme, and Smart Hospitality, recently delivered an unforgettable week of educational fun and entertainment at Evolution London in Battersea Park. From July 29th to August 2nd, 2024, local families enjoyed an array of free activities and entertainment.
As part of Wandsworth Council’s Access for All scheme 9,728 Wandsworth residents booked into the week, offering children aged 5-15 an opportunity to engage in diverse, educational, and fun-filled experiences during a time when community support is most needed.
The week-long event was particularly crucial during the ongoing Cost-of-Living Crisis, providing important summer holiday activities and fun at no cost. Running daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, tickets were made available to Wandsworth families, who also received free hot meals courtesy of Smart Hospitality.
Families were treated to a diverse lineup of entertainment, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy. The week-long event had a jam-packed schedule featuring everything from towering inflatables, captivating street dance, and immersive science workshops to educational animal experiences. Other highlights included a Nerf gun battle zone, and classic dodgem cars. For those seeking a calmer atmosphere, quieter corners offered interactive and creative learning sessions, face paint stations, and cosy reading nooks.
Sublime Science captivated children with magical experiments involving smoke, flying objects, and gooey slime-making, while the Sky Birds display offered an interactive and educational experience with Birds of Prey. Additional attractions included a nails and hair braiding salon, family-friendly movie screenings, and the Nutritionist Corner, where families received healthy eating tips and recipes.
The success of this event was bolstered by strong community partnerships, with local organisations leading a variety of workshops across music, dance and exercise classes, sports activities, radio broadcasting workshops, and art. In collaboration with Battersea Summer Scheme, Enable partnered with numerous community organisations, including Riverside Radio, Doddington Roof Gardens, Live Karma Yoga, Carney’s Community, plus a daily visit from the Wandsworth Youth Bus.
As part of its arts offering the event saw four music and visual arts workshops by BB Broadway inspired by the music of Battersea Park in Concert, with the children’s artwork published in the concert programme.
Survey feedback revealed that half of the children tried activities they hadn’t experienced before, with many parents expressing their delight. 93% said they would return again and 95% rated the event positively with 71% rating is great or good for inclusivity.
One parent shared, “It’s my 2nd day here with my two kids. We came last year and it’s just amazing for all the families, and for myself, my children, with the cost of living, it gives the children something to do. They get fed which is an extra bonus. And they get to do all of these lovely activities, getting to find out what’s on offer in the area like Carneys community. We just found out today about the gardening club in Doddington which we never knew about. I have two very different children, and there is something for each and every child here with every different interest. I would recommend it and I’ll be back next year.”
“My son has ADHD and really enjoyed this event; he was able to explore a variety of activities that I wasn’t sure he’d be comfortable doing with his sensory issues.”
“The children had a great day. And it was really nice to give them a day where we didn’t have to watch the pennies or limit what they could do due to money. The face painting, big inflatable and disco were some of the big hits!”
The Big Play Out was attended by local figures, including Mayor Sana Jafri, Marsha de Cordova, Cllr Sheila Boswell, Chair of the Children’s Committee, and Cllr Kate Stock, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services. Reflecting on the event, Cllr Stock emphasised its importance:
“Wandsworth’s Big Play Out was a resounding success, bringing together nearly 10,000 visitors for a week of learning, creativity, and fun. This initiative was crucial in providing much-needed support for local families during the Cost-of-Living crisis, offering free activities that helped close the experience gap for children from low-income households. The diverse range of workshops and events, from sports to arts, gave children the opportunity to stay active, make new friends, and build new skills, ensuring a healthy, enriching summer for all.”
