We listened to the community solution and collaborated with twelve local organisations for the 2021 Come Try Me Day!
A bright idea from community inspired us to have a small stall at Spring into Sanctuary Point to provide an access point for families and children to find out about activities and sports in the area. COVID-19 had other ideas – so we adapted our idea and commenced planning a Come Try Me Day for February, 2021.
Saturday 20 February was a super successful covid safe community event coordinated by The Firefly Bay and Basin team. There were over 150 people in attendance and over 25 volunteers. The volunteers, families and leaders made it a huge success. Sanctuary Point Pride, Cricket, Rugby League, Rugby Union, AFL, Scouts, Physie, BMX and Nippers were all in attendance, there was information around Dance, Soccer, Music, Indoor Climbing, Drama and PCYC available. We had government staff and volunteers onsite to assist with active and creative kids vouchers and roaming surveys to ask what the children thought of school, sports, activities and who they saw as mentors in the community.
We conducted a survey of children on the day and 54% of respondents said when comparing school and extra activities both are equally important as each other. 25% thought sports and activities were much more important than school.
Come Try Me Day Survey 2021
Every child through the gate received a “passport” for stamping as they visited activities, joined in and asked questions. You could see the kids just loving finding out more and having so much fun trying out sports and activities they usually only get to do at school. We really wanted to make sure that children were given the opportunity to find out what is available and to have that conversation with their parents around what activity sparked their interest.
It takes a village to raise a child and the sponsors and donors for the event definitely made it all happen – our sponsors were Local Bendigo Bank Branch – funding the BBQ and Sanctuary Point Pride who provided food to all the active kids. Toyworld Vincentia, Bikes at the Basin, South Coast Indoor Climb, Music is a Verb, Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Network, Department of Health, Headspace and Uniting all providing prizes. We gave away bags, drink bottles, sports gear, safety gear, BMX gear, totem tennis, singing lessons, family climb days, Backpacks and caps.
All the sports were able to gather new interests and registrations and they found it was a great way to connect to parents in the community. They all felt the new connections they created within the community and with the other sports was invaluable.
“The day certainly exceeded my expectations and I am sure that we will have some new juniors starting with us as a result of the day.”
Mark Rugby Union
Firefly Bay and Basin is one of several pilot projects in NSW that have run since 2019. They explore ways for communities to work together to improve the lives of children, young people and families. These pilots are funded by the not-for-profit organisation Uniting. Uniting is responsible for social justice, community services and chaplaincy work of the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT.
The Come Try Me Day is linked to a broader initiative we are designing around “Mentors in the Community” and supporting our tweens to thrive. For more information around the Firefly project or to get involved call Carolyn on 0468 600 574.
