Suffolk Sports Day back for 2024 - Barnes Construction

A Suffolk charity’s twist on a traditional Sports Day featuring axe throwing and three-legged races was hailed a “roaring success” after raising over £11,000 for Home-Start in Suffolk.

More than 170 participants from 18 local businesses went head-to-head at Trinity Park in Ipswich for the five-hour fundraiser. Hosted by Home Start in Suffolk, supported by over 50 volunteers and sponsored by a number of local companies and organisations including MSC (main event sponsors), OCS, Barnes Construction, Trinity Park and Abbeycroft.

Teams competed against each other in traditional sports day races including egg and spoon race, sack race and a highly contested relay race involving space hoppers and human wheelbarrows. Teams were then tested with a team building challenge, to build the tallest balloon tower, before taking part in a range of individual challenges including a climbing wall and archery organised by Abbeycroft and Explore Outdoor and rowing and cycling challenges organised by David Lloyd Club in Ipswich.

Tara Spence, CEO of Home Start in Suffolk, hailed the success of the day, which is now in its second year, and praised the sunny weather. She said:

“It was a fantastic day and great to see so many local people come together and support the families of Suffolk. The sun shone and everyone really got into the team spirit.”

Home Start supports more than 1,400 families a year across Suffolk and is celebrating 25 years working across the county. Stacey Phillips, Partnerships and Fundraising Manager at Home Start, said:

“We were over the moon to see such a great turnout and the teams having such good fun.

It’s a wonderful way to raise money, and the competition really heats up across the day in the best possible spirit. Everyone was smiling at the finish line.”

Home Start in Suffolk is the county’s largest family support charity providing valuable non-judgemental compassionate emotional and practical support to local families in need. Their wide-reaching support services rely on an incredible network of volunteers who provide one-to-one support in the family home and through a range of group support sessions. Fundraising events such as the Suffolk Sports Day are essential to continue meeting the high demands from local families in need.

For more information about Home-Start in Suffolk please visit: www.homestartinsuffolk.org.