A popular community celebration at Addison Park will return this summer after organisers secured a £500 grant to help stage a free family day out in Browney.
Friends of Addison Park will hold its annual Party in the Park from 12.30pm to 3pm on Saturday 1 August at the Browney Lane venue. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the event, which has become a major date in the community calendar for Browney, Meadowfield and Brandon.
What is planned at Addison Park
The party will offer activities for children and adults, including a craft tent, bouncy castle, archery, giant garden games, face painting, mehndi henna body art and a children’s play area.
Visitors will also be able to buy food from a range of food vans and concessions. Move County Durham, which uses Addison Park for its ‘Couch To 5K’ running sessions and other wellbeing activities, will attend alongside Brandon & Carrside Youth Club and the Durham Prostate Cancer group.
The £500 award has come from the Banks Group’s Banks Community Fund and will cover most of the cost of organising this year’s event. The Banks Group is headquartered in Meadowfield and has supported Friends of Addison Park over a number of years.
Community work behind the annual event
Party in the Park was first held in 2016 and has grown every year. It celebrates the work carried out by Friends of Addison Park throughout the year, including efforts to improve the park as a facility for local residents.
The Friends group was founded in 1999 and is made up of local people working to improve Addison Park for the wider community. It will also organise litter picks before and after the party to help keep the park in good condition for visitors.
“The Party In The Park is a brilliant family event with lots of things for people of all ages to enjoy and we’re already counting down to this year’s big day.”
That is the view of group secretary Jackie Waggott, who said the event was the Friends’ annual highlight and an opportunity to show residents the impact of its work.
“We try to make the Party as inclusive and accessible as we can, so that everyone can enjoy a day out without worrying about the cost and gets the chance to make some new connections across our community.”
Waggott said the event would not be possible without support from the Banks Group and other backers.
Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, said the Friends were committed to keeping Addison Park in good condition and creating a welcoming venue for the annual party.
“We’re very glad to be extending our support for the Friends’ invaluable work and hope as many local people as possible get to enjoy a fun, sunny Saturday in the park next month.”
How to find community funding
The Banks Group’s community funds are independently managed by Point North, formerly the County Durham Community Foundation. Community groups near a Banks Group project that want to find out whether they may be eligible for funding can contact the company through its website enquiry form.