slapstick humour and extremely interactive with loads of back- and-forth banter between the performers and the crowd. Children enthusiastically raised their hands to be chosen to participate and everyone was thrilled by the fast jugglers, clever magicians and agile acrobats. Other acts included a strongman, giant slinky and panda bear. Benches at the front meant children could sit with their friends and be close to the action. When the shows were over, the
circus packed away and a team of PTA children helped pick litter from the field. By 9pm, they were gone and our village playing field was totally spotless. Between the circus and the PTA
team effort we made more than £3,500 profit. The funds are going towards an outdoor classroom and we are also making a donation towards school trips to assist parents in difficult circumstances. Selena Jacobs, PTA chair, Cogenhoe Primary School, Northampton (210 pupils)
Camp night
‘Compared to other events we run, our camp night is stress-free’
T
We had sold all 600 tickets and there was a long waiting list
he smell of hotdogs and burgers wafted from the food
tent while the sound of children happily playing rounders and football filled the air. Around the school field, some 30 families set up their tents while a dad was DJing in one corner. While running the drinks stall
with my friend and fellow committee member Justine, I marvelled at what a great atmosphere our annual camp night always generates and what a simple but enjoyable event it is. We’ve been running our camps
for over 15 years, and this was the second time I’d been the organiser – the first was in 2019. Every year, tickets sell out within a week, even though we charge £30-£40 a pitch. We make even more money from selling evening-only tickets to people who want to be a part of it but don’t fancy camping. Besides the small food and drinks tents and the DJ, we don’t provide any other entertainment – we make it clear it’s about families making their own fun. People bring whatever sports
44 SPRING 2023
pta.co.uk
equipment they want – footballs, bikes, bats and balls. The tents go up around the outside of the school field, and the kids just get on with playing together in the middle. As people arrive, we give them wristbands and a black rubbish sack and tell them they need to clear up after themselves. We provide access to school toilets that face the playground, so we don’t have to hire portable loos. For the most part, people bring
their own food or order pizzas to be delivered to the field, but for the first time this year we used external vendors, and we asked for 15% of their takings. A local guy specialising in food pop-ups did the burgers and hotdogs, and in the morning, a cafe from the high street served pancakes and coffee. Previously, we’d cooked everyone bacon rolls for breakfast, which was a lot of work. At 10.30pm, the people with
evening-only tickets left, and we locked the gates and gave all the kids hot chocolate and biscuits as a bedtime snack.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
