23 Jul Plenty for the young (& young at heart) to do in Torbay this summer

EXCITEMENT is building across the Bay as schoolchildren start the long summer break.

The lucky ones will be going away, but many more will be enjoying everything the Bay has to offer through a whole series of events, mostly organised by and staffed with volunteers.

Torbay Council will once again be running its Holiday and Food Programme (HAF), details of which can be found on its website. This is a fabulous project that ensures no children are excluded.

They partner with schools, clubs, charities, and businesses to provide a wide range of activities, including ball sports, water sports, arts, music, dance and drama, cooking and gardening, board games, and developing life skills.

The HAF program offers free holiday clubs with meals and activities for children eligible for free school meals. Additionally, Play Torbay hosts free events, such as its 25th Birthday Party and Foxhole Fridays, a free drop-in youth club. The Torbay Family Hub also offers free drop-in sessions, such as the Feed and Nurture Group.

And, as usual, in addition to paid staff, there is an army of volunteers providing their skills free of charge to make the holidays fun and memorable.

Children’s Week is always a highlight and takes place this year from August  1`9^th – 23^rd on Paignton Green. The longest-running event of its kind in the country, Children’s Week is now in its 78^th year.

Wholly funded by local businesses as well as individuals, so many people have grown up with this week of free entertainment on Paignton’s seafront and are now taking their grandchildren and even great-grandchildren along.

Children’s Week itself is organised and run by volunteers who undertake all the fundraising and often give up their own holidays to deliver it. Remarkable, then, that it has kept going down generations.

Keeping children entertained over five days is no mean feat, and relies heavily on the goodwill, skills and dedication of dozens of volunteers, each giving up their time for the benefit of children of all ages from across Torbay.

It kicks off on Monday 18^thAug with Imagine This Holding a Youth Celebration Event at People’s Parkfield. Tuesday is Discovery Day with an early morning cycle ride, Rob Pudner, Mr Cosmo and the Recycling assault course.

Wednesday is Have a Go day with Torbay sports and dance clubs, fun activities, and circus skills. Thursday 21^st – Is Getting Creative, featuring fancy Dress, Mr Frosty Ice Cream Conga and a world of pure imagination. Not forgetting the Onesie Disco in the evening followed by a Fire Show extravaganza.

Friday is a day not for the faint-hearted. Muck, Mayhem and absolute chaos rule this day. Lots of messy fun things that you can’t do at home.

Saturday is Sci-Fi and Movie Day, not just for the little ones, but also for the young at heart. Enjoy some great movie cars and characters from the big screen, along with movie memorabilia.

And finally, don’t forget about the Lion’s Club, Family Funday at Goodrington Park, Paignton on the Sunday.

But the Summer months are not just about children. Paignton Festival, also organised by and run by volunteers, has a packed programme of events running from July 25^th to August 10^th, including the famous Carnival procession, this year sponsored by the Spinning Wheel on Wednesday, July 30^th, starting at 7.30 pm.

The organisers have also lined up a series of musical events, including tribute acts to Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Cher. The VW Dubs on the Beach event is also coming back on Sunday, August 3^rd. If you can help, you can volunteer via Paignton-festival.com website.

Over in Brixham, also on Sunday, August 3^rd, celebrity chefs Mitch Tonks, Jane Baxter, and Nathan Outlaw will be grilling thousands of fish for the first of the South West Sardine Festivals in the fish market from 12:00-9:30 pm. Again, more volunteers are needed to marshal and help clear tables, and you will be rewarded with plates of sardines (and perhaps if you are over 18, some rose wine). Put your name forward in an email to [email protected].

Comprehensive ‘What’s On’ listings can be found on our Torbay Communities website, alongside the listing for your Community Builder. Alternatively, you can visit Torbay Council’s events page or the English Riviera website.

No matter your age or means, there is something for everyone on the English Riviera this Summer, and if you volunteer, you can enjoy it for free.