Open Day 2008

Each year Friends First opens its doors to friends, family, other support organisations, financial contributors, potential funders and key local figures. 2008 saw an excellent turnout. Despite the threat of an October downpour the weather held and once again residents and staff combined to put on a fantastic event!
The garden hosted a marquee and two other smaller covered stands. There was music from two live bands, a tombola raffle and a cake stand.

The interior of the house was used for hot food preparation and service with a mouth watering selection of foods from around the world – a lifeskill that one of the staff members had been leading throughout the year.
There were also displays of resident’s artwork and photographs, a DVD of the annual house summer holiday and our workshop hosted a rolling video presentation about one particular residents journey through the house.
Residents, ex-residents and the staff team worked tirelessly to prepare, host and serve the event as well as combine for the ‘clear-up’!

It is not an easy thing, opening up your home to a multitude of strangers, but many looked in their element running the raffle, showing people around, serving teas and coffees and generally getting stuck in.
The day not only helped to raise the profile of Friends First but also served to raise much needed funds.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to a great day, those who slaved over hot stoves the night before, the residents who opened up their home, the people that generously donated to the charity and all those who took the time out to visit – See you next year!