A single mum -of-two from Dundee has launched the UK’s first ever summer festival for single parents.
The seven-day extravaganza on the outskirts of the city is aimed at supporting mums and dads bringing up children on their own.
Organiser Elaine Harris - who was a finalist in the UK’s Top Model competition in 2014 - has pulled together an exciting line-up of events.
Speaking to the Daily Record on National Single Parent Day, the 41-year-old mum to Nina, 9, and five year-old Faith, said: “We love music and socialising but have sometimes struggled to find family friendly events.
“After speaking to other single parents a lot of them admitted that they have not holidayed on their own before as they have worried about being sat on their own while others were in groups. This is why the festival was born. “
The festival takes place from the 25th July and will have a dedicated camping area for families with additional needs such as autism and ADHD.
It will be held at Douglaswood scout camp near Monikie, Angus with families already signed up from across the UK.
Included in the ticket is a whole week of activities suitable from tots to teens to adults.
Activities vary widely but include silent discos, bush craft, tight rope walking, orienteering and lots of music performances.
An option of a pre-pitched tent and kit is offered all ready for arrival.
That way families just need to turn up, drop their bags off and they can get into the festival vibe straight away.
There will also be reasonably priced food available day and night on site and the festival will cater to different dietary requirements.
Elaine explained: “It’s a place where people can come and their kids can play away to their hearts content.
“We want to take away as much stress as we can from parents so not only kids but adults can enjoy themselves to the max.”
Elaine is a former catwalk star for major designers and was a finalist in Top Model UK 2014.
Since then she has set up and runs a pop up dental and optical clinic in Cape Verde and has cycled solo from John O Groats to Lands End.
She has also made an epic journey to Australia from her house with NO money through 15 countries in just 10 days.
According to the Office of National Statistics there are 2.9 million lone families in the UK in 2020.
This accounts for 14.7% of all families and it’s because of this Elaine says that there is such a need for an event like the Single Parent Festival.
Elaine added: “I’m on a lot of online groups. Being a single parent can be very isolating but even more so over the last 2 years due to the Covid situation and people are struggling emotionally.
“The festival is a way of bringing everyone together and means everyone is in the same situation so it’s easier for people to chat away and make friends.
“We are already building an online community of people who are attending this years festival, it’s a place where people can get to know others before they arrive. The idea is that people will come back year on year to the event.”
- To find out more information and book camping slots check out the festival website here.
Or you can contact organisers by email here- help@singleparentfestivals.com
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