Over the past winter Awe & Wonder provided free, welcoming creative play sessions for young children and their families. Feedback from participating families shows the sessions are delivering meaningful impact in four key areas:

✔ Supporting children’s creativity and confidence
✔ Strengthening family relationships through shared play
✔ Reducing isolation by connecting parents and carers
✔ Inspiring creative activities at home beyond the sessions

Families consistently described Awe & Wonder as a vital local community resource and expressed strong support for continued funding. A trusted community space where children flourish, families connect, and creativity continues long after families go home.

100% of the 17 families who responded said they want the sessions to continue.

1. What Families Value Most

Safe Spaces to Explore

Families repeatedly highlighted the importance of children having freedom to play, create and get messy in a safe environment.

“A wonderful safe place to explore sensory activities with clay, paint, water and sand.”

“Safe space for children to create & get messy.”

“Giving them the freedom to explore in a safe environment.”

Creative, Engaging Experiences

Families praised the variety of activities and how sessions remain fresh and exciting each week.

“Different every week. Engaging for my daughter.”

“The variety of activities.”

“My boys always enjoy themselves greatly.”

Social Connection for Families

Parents, grandparents and carers valued opportunities to meet others, build friendships and feel part of a community.

“A really great place for young families to be creative and socialise.”

“It’s great meeting up with other parents/grandparents.”

“For parents it offers space for recreation and casual conversations.”

2. Impact Beyond the Sessions

Creativity Continues at Home

Most families said sessions inspired them to try new creative activities at home.

Examples included:

✔ Painting more often
✔ Shadow play
✔ Torch/light play
✔ Print making
✔ Role play
✔ Large-scale outdoor painting
✔ Messy play with greater confidence

“We get the paint out more at home now.”

“We paint and colour more often now.”

“Letting my child get messy and not worrying.”

Family Bonding Through Play

Families reported spending more quality time creating together.

“Actually do art together every time I visit.”

“My daughter can express herself through creative play.”

3. Community Value

Families clearly see Awe & Wonder as an important part of local life.

“It’s the best group we attend.”

“A fabulous local, free facility for the youngest children of our town.”

“This is a vital part of our community.”

“We really hope you can find the funding for this amazing play sessions.”

4. What This Means

Awe & Wonder is achieving outcomes that matter:

For Children

• Confidence building
• Sensory exploration
• Creativity and imagination
• Social development
• Joyful early experiences

For Parents & Carers

• Reduced isolation
• Peer support
• Shared play ideas
• Confidence to play creatively at home

For Crewkerne Community

• Accessible family provision
• Strong local relationships
• Preventative early years support
• High demand and strong reputation

5. Why Continued Funding Matters

Families consistently describe Awe & Wonder as something they rely on and deeply value. Continued investment would help:

✔ Sustain free access for local families
✔ Reach more children in early years
✔ Expand creative resources and materials
✔ Support family wellbeing and connection
✔ Strengthen community resilience

6. Voices of Families

“We are so fortunate to have these sessions.”

“My daughter loves her Tuesday sessions.”

“Just thank you.”

“We have really enjoyed our Tuesday mornings.”

“We really hope you can find the funding for this amazing play sessions.”

“It is a vital part of our community.“

Awe & Wonder is more than a play session. It is a trusted community space where children flourish, families connect, and creativity continues long after families go home.

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Thank you to Somerset Community Foundation and Somerset Council for funding these sessions as part of the Help Through Winter Programme.