Connected places

Free family fun in the park

Building an active community

Free family fun in the park was created to bring families and friends together, to enjoy being active outdoors in a way that suits them.

Driven by local insights, it was clear that many Harlow residents who face levels of deprivation, value free and inclusive opportunities for the whole family to be active together. A previous model has been trialled, but its structure wasn’t supporting effective delivery and didn’t connect with the community due to already engaged commitments.

Locally trusted organisation, Time for Change, took time to understand the barriers and motivators of residents and developed an opportunity that was more suited to the insights offered through community voice. Consequently, a more accessible opportunity has been created within the community that is flexible due to the weather but has social cohesion and connection at its core.

736

attendances between May-Dec 2025

weeks of delivery has taken place to date

It is so nice to have somewhere to go where Ben isn’t judged for his needs and doesn’t have need to mask who he is.

Parent

Active Essex have helped manage relationships with both national and local providers, connecting locally trusted organisations, Time for Change Kids with key council officials to secure access to green spaces.

Continuation of the initiative is growing in terms of provision and regular attendees are returning week after week as the project take holds as a free family initiative in Harlow.

Active Essex continue to act as an advocate for the project, ensuring alignment with wider strategic goals and supporting the identification of suitable funding streams to allow the programme to evolve towards a more sustainable delivery model.

Danielle Warnes, Active Essex Relationship Manager, West Essex