On the run up to the Jubilee, I wanted a way to share the special celebrations with all the Strongbones families. I would have loved to have sent something to every one of them but I knew that was unrealistic. Instead, as a team, we decided to send out the ‘garden festival pack’!
This pack needed to have everything in it to make one person’s garden as much like a festival as possible. I trialled three different teepees, all different sizes and materials to find the best one and most accessible for wheelchair users but also to fit the majority of gardens. I also trialled lights, speakers, face paints and marshmallows… mmm!!! I wanted this pack to be enjoyable and really family-orientated. In the end we went with a pack that contained a little bit of everything –
– A 2m or 3m teepee (families chose which size would suit them better in their application email)
– Biolite firepit and poker (these are honestly incredible. So, it’s a firepit but it can be controlled through bluetooth to an app on your mobile that can change the size the flame!!!)
– Wonderboom speaker (it’s waterproof and has speakers all the way round its cylinder shape, so it’s 360° sound).
– Cotton ball lights and a disco light (the disco light adapted to music which was really cool)
– Giant marshmallows and extendable forks, so no one had to get too close to the firepit to toast their marshmallows.
– Outdoor garden carpet. This could be used in so many ways, I used it to hold the teepee entrance down so it was easier to access in my wheelchair, however it could have been used inside the teepee as a nice flooring, on the outside entrance of the teepee to make it even more inviting, or just laid over the grass as somewhere to chill out with family.
– Bunting, balloons, glow sticks and glitter face paint; because what festival you seen that doesn’t have these things?!
This complete pack was great, I was very happy with the end product and was more than happy to send it out to the families our charity supports. In addition to the pack, I asked families if they would share their celebrations on social media; I wanted to create an online social gathering, where families would share their happiness to encourage other families to join in. Due to medical conditions, a lot of our families are remaining cautious, as am I, around groups of people. This online event was a way to tackle social isolation safely, bringing families and friends together from all over the UK, virtually!
When the Jubilee weekend arrived I had friends and family come over to have a party in my garden. I had the best time celebrating with the people I love, I did posts on social media to share our fun and laughter too!
Happy Jubilee friends 🥳
