The De Beauvoir Association annual summer event is the Children's Party in the Park held in the delightful gardens of De Beauvoir Square. This family afternoon epitomises the Association’s objectives to improve the quality of life and social cohesion of people working and living in the area of De Beauvoir Town and promote local organisations and businesses. The 2011 party was our seventh and had all the usuall attractions under mostly clear skies.

By means of partnership and sponsorship, the DBA is able to offer an afternoon of free children’s activities including face painting, bouncy castle, story telling,  football kick-about, and other craft and sports activities. Local organisations covering a range of areas from gardening to keeping fit to local architecture promote themselves. There is always a  "giveaway” stall of children’s books, toys and games all donated by local residents and publishers. 

The event’s success is only made possible through generous partnership and sponsorship with local residents, organization and businesses. Over the years we have worked with Discover, South Kingsland Youth (SKY) Partnership, St Peter’s Church, De Beauvoir Garden Club, Quicksilver Theatre, Motoden, Glen Insurance,  RCM Majestic Brass Band, The Beavers Playgroup, St John Ambulance, Kingsland Station Fire Brigade, our community Police, Living Spaces, North One Garden Centre, The Rosemary Branch Theatre, Wing Sing, The Duke of Wellington, Bavo Restaurant, The Circus Space, De Beauvoir Neighbourhood Group,  The Benyon Estate and Hackney Council. Typhoon Creative Partnership has supported our publicity. Wonderful photos of past years are available (see below).

Special thanks go to construction company Murphy Group, which has provided the disabled toilet that we required for the last four years. This would otherwise be one of our major expenses. We are now able to use the toilets in the refurbished crypt of St Peter's Church so we are grateful to the church for that.

For the 2011 party we had music from Majestic Brass and generous funding from the Benyon Estate. Some 28 local people baked cakes and savouries which were sold to raised funds. Local businesses generously gave prizes for the raffle and people bought tombola tickets. Revenue from sale of Pimms and second hand books for adults also help fund the event.

More than 300 children and their families enjoyed the party activities from face painting - we had four painters from Mush Arts this year - to the bouncy castle to Chris Nicholson the magician. And there was still lots more fun. Police and CSOs from the local Safer Neighbourhood Team joined us along with two mounted police officers, St John Ambulance and Green Watch from Kingsland fire station. Hackney dieticians and the Building Exploratory and Beavers playgroup had stalls and there was lots, lots more.

Picture below: At the 2011 party, Cllr Jessica Webb, deputy speaker of Hackney Council, draws the raffle alongside compere Fiona Macrae.
Bottom - a view of the 2011 party.

If you can help organise (we always need more volunteers) or sponsor the  Party (it costs us about £3,000 to stage the event), or have books, toys and games to donate for the popular and unique Giveaway stalls, please contact the De Beauvoir Association.

2011 Party Pictures

2010 Party Pictures

2010 Party in the Hackney Gazette

2009 Party Pictures

2009 Party in the Hackney Gazette

2008 Party accounts (spreadsheet)

Pictures from the 2007 party
2007 Party in The Park notes and accounts

2006 Party in The Park
            Photos
            Press Article (Hackney Today) 
            Thanks
            Poster
            Accounts
     
2005  Party in The Park
      Press Article (Hackney Gazette)