Memorial Fund 'Families Matter : Caring Matters' event report
source: National Memorial Family Fund
first published: 7 June 2023
This event (by a Catalyst incubated organisation, the National Memorial Family Fund) took place in Manchester on 27 May 2023 and was a free family only entertainment, socialising pampering event for those affected by deaths in custody. It consisted of a 3-course meal and beverages, pamper zones, arts & wellbeing stalls, resident DJ and local performing artists. This event was essentially all about respite, entertainment,
fun and pampering.
The event opened with an appreciation to the families and introduced the Family Fund team to attendees, with each team member outlining their roles. Thanks were also extended to the attending stallholders, performers and the venue.
The event also screened a short spoken word film from George the Poet, an honest, compelling piece to mark the upcoming 6th anniversary of the
Grenfell fire in London. The event attendees marked a 72 second silence in remembrance of each of the victims.
Family Fund founder, Tippa Naphtali said;
"We wanted to ensure that this was not just yet another event where families were being asked to retell the stories of what happened to their loved ones, and thereby reliving their trauma. Instead, this was all about kicking back, having fun, and enjoying the company of others with lived experience and making connections."
A buffet of great food was also provided, and everyone ate together giving families, performers and the Fund team a chance to mingle and enjoy themselves over a tasty feast. The food was delicious and came in abundance, so many attendees were able to take containers home.
There was also a raffle where families won some really cool prizes that were taken from the Family Fund Two-Way Give-Back Shop.
Families and other attendees could also treat themselves to pampering activities which included face painting, t-shirt printing, nail & lash treatments, canvas painting and fun exercise sessions in the lovely sunshine. Other stalls included some impressive handmade children's clothes, jewellery, accessories and hand drawn art works.
