St Kevin’s Community Hub in Bargeddie hosts Community Fun Day

St Kevin’s Primary parent council organised the gathering, with activities including sports, live performances, stalls, food, face painting and bouncy castles.

Hundreds of excited locals gathered at St Kevin’s Community Hub in Bargeddie for a community event bringing together families, local organisations, businesses and performers.

St Kevin’s Primary parent council organised the Community Fun Day at the new school and community hub, with activities including sports, live performances, stalls, food, face painting and bouncy castles.

The event was organised by a small team of parent council volunteers and attracted a turnout which surprised even some of those who had expected the day to be busy.

The original idea for the Fun Day came from parent council member Rachael Kennedy, who proposed holding an event which could bring families together while making use of the new community facilities.

“I don’t think any of us realised just how much the idea would grow,” she said.

The scale of the response was praised by Coatbridge MSP Fulton MacGregor, who said he had been taken aback by just how many people attended.

Mr MacGregor added: “The parent council – all you guys – have done absolutely brilliantly.

“I’m astounded by how busy it is. I did think it would be busy because I know you’ve got a very good reputation and Bargeddie is a close-knit community, but I think just how busy it has been has really caught everybody by surprise.

“I can’t remember a community event recently that has been as busy as this.”

Coatbridge West councillor Gary Robinson said: “Look at the amount of people who have come together here today.

“There are hundreds and hundreds of people seeing what this community hub has got to offer, and it’s just a fantastic day.

“If you look at the range of activities that are available for families, the amount of stalls that are here and the number of organisations represented, it’s absolutely fantastic.”

Councillor Michael McBride, convener of the education, children and families committee, also highlighted the importance of community-led events in bringing residents together and opening local facilities to a wider audience.

He added that parent councils also had an important role within schools and needed support to help them develop activities and opportunities for families.

The Fun Day was made possible with support from a number of businesses, with nearby Viridor providing the largest contribution.

Other sponsors included Money & Me Solicitors, Kane Building & Landscape, Archiplan Glasgow, ATG Plumbing & Heating, The Princess Bar in Riddrie and AM Fagan Estate Agents.

Suzanne McLean, community benefits officer at Viridor, said the company wanted to support the new school and continue building its relationship with the surrounding community.

“We really value the community,” she added.

“We are right in the heart of it, and we want to be good neighbours and look after the community.

“You can see all the kids with their faces painted and big smiles on their faces.

“They all look like they’re having an absolute ball at all the different stalls and on the bouncy castles as well.”

Facepainting proved particularly popular, with unicorns the most requested design.

Julieanne from Doodlebug Facepainting described the Fun Day as a “brilliantly well-run event” with “wonderful feedback” from families.

Entertainment formed a major part of the Fun Day, with young dancers getting the opportunity to perform in front of families from across the local community.

Lisa Boyle, owner and instructor at ExtravaDance Academy, said: “The dancers were made to feel so welcome and the support from the audience was excellent.

“Most of our dancers are from the Bargeddie community so this was a fantastic opportunity for them to showcase their talents.

“It was also a lovely way for the local community to see what the dance school is truly about; making our young people confident, happy and healthy.

“The Fun Day brought lots of new interest in the dance school and we’re so excited to welcome along the new faces who have signed up to join our classes.”

Families were entertained throughout the day by Robert’s Magical Entertainments and the parent council also thanked Aurelia, Allegria and Isabella, students of Ruthven Music, who provided live musical entertainment, adding to the atmosphere across the event, and all of the volunteers who helped to make the whole day run “so smoothly”.

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