TAKEFREE ME HOME IN THIS ISSUE Summer What’s On Festivals Guide WIN Tickets to Classic Ibiza Issue 87 July/Aug 2019 familiesonline.co.uk 2 Families Herts familiesonline.co.uk In this issue: News & Views 4-7 Festivals 8-9 Parenting 10 and 12 Hello! Education 11 Welcome to the summer issue of Families Herts magazine. Clubs & classes 14 The summer months of July and August are always a busy time for families as we try to fill the days with as What’s On 15-19 many activities, play dates, and days out as we possibly Cover image: Primark can to keep our children occupied over the six-week break from school, whilst also juggling other work–life commitments. Tel: 07958284983 So Families Herts has given you a helping hand with your summer timetabling demands by Email: [email protected] providing a jam-packed What’s On of activities, events, holiday camps, classes, water parks, fairs www.familiesonline.co.uk and family photoshoots! Do also make sure you read the adverts placed throughout the magazine too, from Families Herts clients promoting a wide range of fantastic events. Editor: Dale Harry Summer is festival season and in our feature on pages 8-9 we’ve highlighted a number of the Design: Christina Billingham best family-friendly weekenders around, and details of the many performers who’ll be appearing. Listings editor: Karen Porter And we’ve got some hot tickets to give away in our competition for the Classic Ibiza concert at Facebook: Twitter: Hatfield House too, more on this on page 5. FamiliesHerts @FamiliesHerts Keeping busy keeps your child’s brain active during the ‘down months’ of summer, where it has been found that children lose a third of what they’ve learned in the academic year. Have a look Market your business with Families Herts at our Parenting feature Summer activities to avoid brain-drain (page 12) for ideas on how to have • We reach over 45,000 engaged fun, and keep those brain neurons in tip-top condition at the same time. readers each issue Whether you’re going abroad on holiday, choosing a ‘staycation’ to English shores, or keeping it simple and sticking to day trips (which is just as much fun!), have a wonderful break. • Distribute from schools, tuition centres, Enjoy your summer! leisure attractions and more • We have a high repeat booking rate, so advertising with us works trusted, influential, visible Dale 07958284983 Families Hertfordshire (FH) is part of the Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham FamiliesHouse, Regatta Herts is Place, part of Marlow Families Road, Print Bourne Ltd, a franchiseEnd, Bucks, company. SL8 5TD. All The franchised content magazinesof FH is fully in theprotected group areby copyright.independently Every owne cared is and taken operated in the underpreparation licence. of Families this magazine, is a registered but Families trademark Print ofLtd LCMB and FHLtd, cannot Remenham be held House, responsible Regatta for Place, the Marlowclaims of Road, advertisers Bourne nor End, for Bucks the accuracySL8 5TD. Theof the contents contents, of Familiesor any consequence Herts are fully thereof. protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Herts. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof. News & Views Business park hosts first volunteer fair Breakspear Park in Hemel Hempstead has held its first Space Chase volunteer fair to help raise awareness of local good causes Reading Challenge among the business park’s 1,000+ members of staff. The event was a great opportunity T he Summer Reading Challenge encourages children aged 4 to 11 to read for charities to showcase the six library books during the long summer holiday. outstanding work they do, and Children's reading can decline during the summer holidays if they don’t potentially recruit more volunteers have regular access to books or encouragement to read for pleasure. and raise money. This year the challenge will focus on the theme ‘Space Chase’ – an Representatives from Hope for out-of-this-world adventure inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first Children, Druglink Ltd, Willow moon landing. Foundation, Keech Hospice Care, Children are challenged to read at least six library books over the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust school holidays and collect rewards, such as stickers, on their way to and CLIC Sargent were all present receiving their challenge certificate and medal. There’s also the chance at the one-day event. to win a VIP pass to the Mission Control event with children’s author Dina Mistry, Marketing Manager for Breakspear Park, said: ‘We like to Steve Cole. host events that our staff can attend within work time. Three of the The Challenge will launch in libraries on Saturday 13 July 2019. Head companies housed here offer staff volunteering days so it was a great down to the St Albans Library launch event and the Mobile Planetarium opportunity for them – and all other employees – to discover new at Bishops Stortford Library (ticketed) to get started – for details and to charitable activities they can get involved in. ensure you don’t miss out, visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraries or ‘The charities had many people sign up on the day for a variety of call 0300 123 4049. activities and events.’ Breakspear Park also recently raised more than £1,500 with a For further general information on the Summer Reading Challenge cake and raffle day (pictured) with monies donated to children’s visit www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk charity WellChild. Summer at Knebworth House Knebworth House, Park, Gardens and Adventure Playground has an exciting summer ahead with events and activities for the whole family. The Great British Food Festival (July 20-21) has an amazing range of food producers, tasty street food and drinks bars. There are also lots of fun activities for children to get involved in and live music to enjoy too. In August, Knebworth House hosts the Country, Crafts & Steam Fair, which truly has something for everyone. All-day entertainment will include steam engines, fighting knights, and birds-of-prey displays. All the fun takes place August 10-11. For car enthusiasts, the Classic Motor Show rolls into town with over 1000 classic and collectable vehicles appearing each day. There will be a wide range, including saloons, sports, American, commercial and military cars, and classic motorcycles. One for your diary! (August 25-26). Booking in advance can save you 10% on the entrance fee. For further information, including ticket prices, visit www.knebworthhouse.com. 4 Families Herts familiesonline.co.uk News & Views a family ticket Concerts supporting charities to Classic Ibiza at Disadvantaged children from across the Hatfield House county are set to benefit from a partnership between Classic Ibiza, Heart Four Counties Classic Ibiza, in association with San Miguel, and its charity, GMSN. takes place at Hatfield House on 31 August The Classic Ibiza concert takes place in and is an event not to be missed. The concert August at Hatfield House, and with the sees the Urban Soul Orchestra, DJ Goldierocks support of Heart Four Counties radio aims and critically acclaimed live vocalists perform to help raise £20,000 for small charities and dance music’s most iconic tracks in the projects which support disadvantaged children stunning grounds of Hatfield House. and young people living with illness, disability The concert starts with a chill-out set, where or lack of opportunity. you can relax while enjoying a picnic or a glass There will be various fund-raising activities of bubbly, or dance along as the sun fades. including a donation of £1 from every The music picks up tempo in the second-half programme sold at the concert (and three of the evening as the musicians take you on a other concerts across the country), face magical journey of Balearic beats! painting and from a number of collection For more information go to points placed at key locations on the grounds. www.classicibiza.co.uk/hatfield. ‘The money raised by concert goers for Lisa Ward, Director of Revival Productions, To win one of two family tickets (2 adults Global’s Make Some Noise will support many organisers of Classic Ibiza, adds: ‘We have and 2 children) to Classic Ibiza answer this charities. Small charities like Learning Through always looked for ways to support local question and email your response to Horses, which helps vulnerable young people charities and what better way to do this [email protected] by Friday in Hertfordshire and elsewhere who have than through our partnership with Heart and 17th August. been excluded or are at risk of exclusion from Global’s Make Some Noise. Classic Ibiza is a school, to develop vital life skills through concert for all the family and we look forward Ibiza is part of which group of islands? working with horses,’ says Emma Bradley, to working with the charity to help raise funds A: The Galapagas Islands Managing Director of GMSN. to help disadvantaged children, young people B: The Balearic Islands The partnership will enable the charity to and their families. C: The Shetland Islands expand its coverage within Hertfordshire over More on Classic Ibiza and summer festivals on The winning entries will be informed by email. the coming 12 months, particularly in schools.