A day of fun, friendship and support for forces families

Our recent family fun day, delivered as part of the Serving Families On the Move project, was a fantastic event designed to bring armed forces families together and help those new to the area feel supported and connected to their local community.

Held as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting serving personnel and their families, the day was a relaxed and friendly environment where forces families could connect with one another, enjoy activities together, and learn a bit more about the support available to them locally. For many attendees who have recently relocated to Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, events like this are an important first step in building new networks and settling into unfamiliar surroundings.

The atmosphere throughout the day was full of positivity, with families that came along noting there was a range of fun and inclusive activities suitable for all ages. Children particularly enjoyed the face painting and arts and crafts, while interactive elements such as planting sunflower seeds proved very popular. Families shared that their children had a “fabulous time”, with some highlighting the face painting as a real favourite of the day!

Alongside the activities, the event also served as a key opportunity to highlight the purpose of the Serving Families on the Move project. Families were able to find out more about the wide range of support available, including help with accessing local services, improving wellbeing, reducing isolation, and building confidence in a new environment. For those navigating the unique challenges of relocation, this kind of information and reassurance is incredibly valuable to our armed forces community.

Conversations throughout the day reflected how important these opportunities and events are, with attendees noting to us how helpful it was to discover what support is available locally. For some, it was the first time they had felt a real sense of belonging since moving to the area, something that sits at the heart of what our project aims to achieve.

The event also strengthened connections between the project and partner organisations, with exhibitors attending in support of the project. This created valuable opportunities for collaboration, conversations, and shared learning across different services. It highlighted the importance of partnership in working collaboratively to ensure that armed forces families are aware of and able to access the wide range of support available to them locally.

The family fun day was a great example of the kind of difference the Serving Families on the Move project is working to achieve. By creating relaxed, welcoming spaces, we’re helping families feel more connected, more confident, and better supported as they settle into a new area. We’re looking forward to building on this and continuing to create more chances for families to connect, share experiences, and feel part of their community.

Find out more about Serving Families on the Move