We were thrilled to host our Orange Aid Family Festival for the second time on Saturday 13 September, inviting over 400 disabled children and their families to Challengers for a fun free day out.
Families gathered at our Guildford centre on September 13th, and what a joy it was to welcome more than 400 guests to the second Orange Aid Family Festival, a day that overflowed with laughter and unforgettable moments.
There was something to keep everyone entertained. The Guildford Model Engineering Society’s trains chugged along, weaving delighted passengers through winding tracks. Nearby, local police and fire crews rolled in with their vehicles allowing children to peer in at controls and imagine heroic adventures. Live music echoed across the grounds: Ben Dlugokecki brought energy and stage presence, while Paul Wilson, our Head of Service, stood mic in hand, delivering heartfelt songs in perfect harmony with the day. All the while, Peter Gordon worked the crowd, weaving between stalls and stages, ensuring smiles never dimmed.
Our festival stalls were alive with colour and energy, thanks to our brilliant Leaders who ran the stalls with creativity and warmth. From tasty treats to face painting and plenty of little surprises in between, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Families wandered from stall to stall, stopping to laugh, chat, and soak up the festival atmosphere.
Behind the scenes, the heartbeat of the festival was the incredible team of helpers and supporters: staff, volunteers, sponsors and community partners. A huge thank-you to Rapid Relief Team UK for preparing free meals and lending a hand, to The Eaves Counselling and Psychology and ramsac for their generous sponsorship, to local police and fire crews for adding the wow factor, and to every stallholder whose presence brought colour and fun to the day. And to all our guests who came along—your joy and energy filled the space and made the festival truly shine.
But Orange Aid is about far more than a day of performances and activities. It’s about creating a safe, welcoming space where disabled children and their families can relax, enjoy each other’s company, and build happy memories together. Seeing children’s faces light up, hearing laughter ripple across the festival grounds, and watching families unwind – these are the real highlights.
As the final notes faded and the trains came to a stop, we packed away the bunting and swept up the confetti. We left with full hearts and already buzzing with plans for the next chapter.
We’d like to thank everyone who helped make the event so wonderful, including:
- Our wonderful guests for coming along
- Our staff and volunteers for giving their time
- Rapid Relief Team UK for providing free meals
- The Eaves Counselling and Psychology and ramsac for their sponsorship
- Local police and fire crews for coming along in their vehicles
- Our stallholders for adding fun to the festival