We were delighted to welcome so many local residents to enjoy some fun activities at our recent Community Together event, held at McDonald’s on College Road, New Oscott.

This event, sponsored by Boss Gardens, was a collaborative effort between Witton Lodge Community Association, the Kingstanding Police Team and  McDonald’s New Oscott to give local residents the opportunity meet the teams and learn about the services that are available to them.

Our free planting workshop gave green-fingered children and adults alike, the chance to get hands-on and plant their own decorative baskets and troughs to brighten their homes. Witton Lodge staff were also available throughout the event, offering free advice on energy-efficient and welfare benefits to help residents understand how to cut their household bills and save money.

Local resident, Lafeefa Annagie, attended with her nephew. She said: “It’s absolutely wonderful that the community can get together for such things like this.

“My nephew loves gardening so he’s really enjoyed it.”

Ben, from Warren Farm, attended with his daughter and brother. He commented: “We came to support this community event, to help people come together and support each other and to have fun together.”

One of the many highlights of the day was the brilliant opportunity to engage with the Kingstanding Police Team. Families and children were able to step inside a real police van, explore the officers’ kit, and have friendly, open conversations about life in the local area. It was fantastic to see how approachable and supportive our local police are, taking the time to listen to residents’ concerns and answer questions in a relaxed, informal setting.

Reflecting on the success of the event, Nikki Remmer, Franchise Manager at McDonald’s New Oscott, said: “It was a real three-way effort to join the community together and really help people feel they’re all a valued part of this community.”

Thank you to our amazing collaborators for helping us to host this successful event and to everyone that joined us on the day to access our workshop and services. We look forward to seeing you again at the next one – keep an eye on our Facebook page for details on future activities.