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Mojo’s first visit to the Strand Lido.
The Strand Takeover event took place on Tuesday, 28 July, welcoming over 600 children, young people and families to a free swimming experience at The Strand Lido.
Children and families were able to enjoy the outdoor saltwater pool, alongside slides, a lazy river and pool inflatables.
Child-Friendly Medway’s mascot, Mojo, also made a few appearances to meet guests.
Free books were provided at the end of the event to encourage children and young people to read over the summer as part of our For the Love of Reading initiative.
One parent/carer that attended The Strand Takeover told us:
"I just wanted to send a thank you to whoever makes days like today at the lido possible. It is so lovely that we get to make use of such fantastic facilities and that this can be offered for free by yourselves. Also, the free book was a great surprise at the end. It all really is appreciated."
Children and young people told us:
"Very organised and lots of friends playing happily! Staff are very helpful. A great day!"
Funded by The Medway Family Hubs and Best Start in Life programme.
Mojo meeting Optimus Prime at Super Saturday
On Saturday, 29 August, Chatham High Street, The Paddock and The Pentagon Shopping Centre were filled with superhero-themed fun and excitement, where 24,303 children, young people, families and the wider community joined us for the return of Child-Friendly Medway's flagship event of the year, Super Saturday.
We had iconic movie and TV vehicles on display, including the Ghostbusters', Ecto 1, the Flintstones' car, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, the DeLorean from Back to the Future, the Jurassic Jeep, and Bumblebee and Optimus Prime from Transformers. Children, young people and families stopped to admire the cars and snap a photo of their favourites.
There were lots of activities to take part in, including the Affinity Stone Hunt, mask making, Hero Trail and Child-Friendly Medway’s Puppet Theatre shows, where attendees could enjoy a superhero show!
Families had the opportunity to take photographs with models of:
- Wonder Woman
- Thor
- Captain America
- Batman
- Hulk
- Superman
- Spiderman
A parent/carer attending on the day shared with us:
"I think the event is really great and interactive for the children with lots of activities. It's been a lovely day out!"
One child told us:
"I want to wear Iron Man's suit. I can't wait to see Spiderman and big strong Hulk."
Funded and delivered in partnership with Medway Together Fund, The Pentagon Shopping Centre and Love Chatham
Families having a ROARSOME time at Dino Day.
Summer Child-Friendly Medway events: Dino Day, Hoo Family Fun Day and Inflatable Fun Day featuring Soft Play
The return of Child-Friendly Medway’s summer favourites included Dino Day, Hoo Family Fun Day and Inflatable Fun Day featuring Soft Play.
At Dino Day, the Chatham High Street and The Pentagon Shopping Centre came alive with prehistoric fun on Wednesday, 12 August, where 386 children, young people and families joined us.
Parents/carers attending the event said:
“Dino Day is amazing, how lucky are we to have this for free! My kids loved it, so much to do.”
One child told us:
‘I made my dinosaur mask purple because that is my favourite colour!’
On Friday, 14 August over 250 children, young people and families joined the Child-Friendly Medway team at the Hoo Village Hall and Recreation Ground for some inflatable fun and fair games at Hoo Family Fun Day.
Children and families enjoyed lots of different free activities, including soft play, penalty shoot-out, mega slide, inflatable football darts, play your cards right, Signs of Youth, Young Mayor voting and face painting.
One parent/carer attending the event shared with us:
“A brilliant event with a range of activities available inside and outside.”
A child at the event told us:
“I liked face paint and the bouncy castle!”
On Tuesday, 18 August Inflatable Fun Day featuring Soft Play returned at Medway Sports Park. Over 700 children and young people joined us for inflatables, games and activities.
Attendees could also take part in activities with our partners, including community partners: Medway Parent Carer Forum and Kent Police. Medway Council teams: Adult Education; Family Solutions; Medway Libraries and Medway Sports.
One child at the event told us:
“I love Inflatable Day! I always come with my mum and brother when it is on.”
Dino Day, Hoo Family Fun Day and Inflatable Fun Day featuring Soft Play are funded by The Medway Family Hubs and Best Start in Life programme.
The Pentagon Shopping Centre and Love Chatham returned as partners to deliver Dino Day.
 The Child-Friendly Medway Team outside Playopolis’s Panda Bear Design Artwork.
Child-Friendly Medway’s first Window Artwork Trail
Child-Friendly Medway celebrated Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday and his conservation work with an animal and insect themed Window Artwork Trail.
Children and young people told us that wildlife and nature is important to them, so we worked with a local artist to create positive nature themed messages based on plants, flowers, trees and insects.
The window artwork trail launched on 8 May, Sir David Attenborough's birthday, and runs between Rochester and Chatham, from Star Hill in Rochester, across the Intra area and finishing in The Pentagon Shopping Centre.
They are displayed in five different window locations including:
- Lauren Edwards Member of Parliament Office for Rochester and Strood
- Playopolis
- The Colour Lounge
- The Pentagon Shopping Centre (former GAME unit)
- Wonder Nails & Co
Quotes displayed on the artwork:
“When a honeybee finds a great source of food, it performs a waggle dance to tell the other bees exactly where it is!”
“Did you know… butterflies taste their food with their feet.”
“Wimbledon tennis balls are placed in wild meadows to create shelters for endangered British Harvest Mice.”
“Giant pandas are no longer classed as endangered after their population grew by 17% in a decade”
The local artist behind the trail told us:
“It feels really special to be able to create so much positive art where I live.”
“There was a young lady who was so excited about the panda fact she literally leapt from the floor and almost started crying with joy.”
Parents/carers shared with us:
“Such a brilliant initiative from Child-Friendly Medway. The window animal artwork displays in the Intra have really brightened up the high street and created something genuinely special for families and local businesses alike. Celebrating Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday in this way feels joyful and meaningful. My little one aged three was completely in awe, especially of the panda and the fish (to him - Nemo); its lovely seeing art bring so much excitement and joy into the town centre.”
“My daughter and I saw you painting this! We were both absolutely amazed!”
“I think they are beautiful, I saw you completing a few in Chatham. Thank you for making the high street feel vibrant.”
“I spotted one on the MP’s office on my stroll the other day, looked lovely! Really brightens the place up.”
 Mojo enjoying meeting children and families at Medway Mile.
Child-Friendly Medway and our mascot Mojo have been super busy over the summer attending partner events and having lots of fun engaging with children, young people and families.
On Sunday, 28 June, we attended the Cuxton Big Lunch where over 800 local families enjoyed stalls, live music and our Signs of Youth creative activity.
On Saturday, 4 July, Child-Friendly Medway attended the Chatham Carnival. Over 20,000 people attended. Mojo took part in the parade, wearing their Thomas Waghorn-inspired cone hat.
On Friday, 17 July, Medway Sport delivered another brilliant Medway Mile! Mojo took part once again in the mascot race and had their photos taken with children and families. Over 2,000 people attended.
On Saturday, 18 July, Mojo enjoyed taking part in another parade, waving to crowds and passing out flags, at the Isle of Grain Fete and Carnival. Over 2,000 children, young people and families attended.
In August, we attended events in three local parks for the Greenspaces team Build a Bug house events.
On Saturday, 8 August, we attended Medway Culture Club Carnival where Mojo once again enjoyed dancing along in the parade.
On Saturday, 22 August, we supported the Sticks and Stones, Community Wellbeing Festival.
We also attended the Twydall and Strood Pride in Place events on Saturday, 15 August and Sunday, 22 August.
Over the summer at partner events, attendees could enjoy many Child-Friendly Medway activities, including:
- Drawing opportunities for Signs of Youth
- Voting for our first ever Young Mayor
- Mojo trails
- Colouring and craft activities
Have you been to one of our events?
Don’t forget to share with us on our social media channels: @ChildFriendlyMedway on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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