Following the success of the Stoke Village Fun Day 2019, The Village Hub, Stoke Traders and Residents Association (STARS), and Diverse Events are once again bringing Stoke Village alive with an annual Fun Day event on July 17.
This year the event will be even bigger – taking over more of Blockhouse Park and extending the summer events – to run during July, August and September – with brand new art activities and the return of Sunset Sounds.
A Crowdfunder appeal has been launched which will provide funds for the following activities:
Stoke Village Fun Day – A full day of entertainment is planned, bringing the village alive. There will be stalls, inflatables, live music and entertainment, as well as a dog show.
Summer art activities – Free art workshops during July, August and September, exploring the nature, culture and heritage of Blockhouse Park. Try out making sun prints, have a go at leaf pounding, or even get high-tech and make something in augmented reality.
Sunset Sounds – Open-air live music events at the top of Blockhouse Park, in the historic redoubt fort. Enjoy the amazing panoramic views across Plymouth and soak up some weird and wonderful sounds.
The Village Hub is a place for residents of Stoke and Morice Town to meet, create, care and grow. Activities radiate outwards from a previously disused retail space on the high street in Stoke village which the Hub took on and renovated in Autumn 2020.
The Village Hub’s mission is to build on existing community spirit, working with local people to bring a bit more colour into all everyone’s lives. They provide opportunities that enable anyone in the community to connect through learning, signposting, cultural activities and having fun in a safe and caring environment. They also host a community larder, a local veg box scheme, regular drop-in and advice sessions, community litter-picks, peer learning workshops, a monthly Culture Club, and art and craft and gardening groups.
Plans for the Stoke Village Fun Day are well underway, with permissions agreed and in place. Stoke Traders & Residents, local businesses and local people are all ready to go, and excited to recreate the success of the pre-pandemic community spectacular in 2019 when Devonport Road was closed for the first time.
Over the last six months, the Village Hub has been working with its new creative community builder to find out more about all of the talented and creative folk who live in the area. For the summer art activities, they want to employ a range of local residents and Plymouth-based creatives to support more people to come together and try new things. Existing art activities are always popular, and often fully booked – so this will give organisers a chance to make sure more people can take part.
The Village Hub has also been working to support local musicians to get together and play music at Blockhouse Park. Sunset Sounds was established by local Stoke barber Phil Loft in 2021, and everyone is looking forward to this growing and becoming a more regular event during the summer. The plan is to bring free, relaxed live music events to Blockhouse Park and bring people together to enjoy it in the open air.
Organisers have set an ambitious target for the project, and are hoping to secure 50 per cent of the target through Plymouth City Council’s groundbreaking City Change Fund. This means if at least £3250 can be raised from supporters, the City Council will match this so that the £6500 target can be met.
For details visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/stoke-village-summer-of-fun and for details of The Village Hub’s activities go to thevillagehub.org.uk.
