Grassrootz Outings to Chessington and Thorpe Park

(L-R) Berkshire Freemasons Charity Steward, Mickey Labana, Deputy Leader of Berkshire Freemasons, Mark Heppelthwaite, Reading Family Aid Outings Manager, Vivienne Simpson, GrassRootz Founder, Kelvin Husbands and GrassRootz Volunteer, Annette Pascal.

​On a couple of chilly and misty days at the end of Half Term, Reading Family Aid organised outings for families and young people that attend the Grassrootz Youth Clubs in Reading. These were set up by Kelvin Husbands a few years ago when his children and their friends were complaining they had nowhere to go. The trips were arranged in conjunction with Berkshire’s Freemasons who paid for the coaches and Kelvin who funded the tickets elsewhere. 

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The younger children went to Chessington World of Adventures on the Thursday ....​

.... and then, the following day, the older children went to Thorpe Park for “Fright Day and Night”, returning to Reading after 11PM!

Reading Family Aids Outings Manager, Vivienne Simpson (L), Berkshire Freemasons Charity Steward, Mickey Labana (C) and the Deputy Leader of Berkshire Freemasons, Mark Heppelthwaite (R).

​​The excited groups, that together numbered over two hundred children plus helpers gathered at various departure points in Reading. The coaches were waved off on both days by representatives of Berkshires Freemasons, Reading Family Aid and the Grassrootz Charities.

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​​Mark Heppelthwaite, the Deputy Leader of Berkshire Freemasons said, “Despite the chilly weather, the children were beaming with excitement and joy at where they were going.  It’s a privilege to be able to make this happen for them.”

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​​Ruth Perkins of Reading Family Aid said, “We’re so grateful for the support given to the children we help by the Berkshire Freemasons.  We really didn’t imagine them be quite so supportive this year and it’s a delight to see the children so happy.”

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Kelvin Husbands said “We are extremely grateful to Berkshire Freemasons and Reading Family Aid for providing the young people who attend Grassrootz the opportunity to take part in two exciting trips. We are so fortunate to have these coaches provided for us which enabled us to make sure over 200 children and young people were able to enjoy Thorpe Park and Chessington. When the young people are deciding what trips, they would like to attend they are blown away at the cost of entry and coaches and being able to remove that stumbling block is such a weight off the shoulder of the parents and volunteers.

(L-R) Tylehurst Lodge member Peter Hopkins Reading Family Aid Fundraising Manager Ruth Perkins Grass Rootz volunteer Annette Pascal; Grass Rootz Founder Kelvin Husbands; and Sindlesham Lodge member Stuart Hogarth.

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​​The coaches also provide a safety element for the day not having to rely on public transport and allowing parents who are working the opportunity to allow their child(ren) to still attend knowing their child(ren) will be safe.”

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Kelvin added “The trips were a huge success with so much fun and laughter and scares, for so many it was their first time to a theme park, and it will forever be a great memory for them.

​​New friendships were made as young people from all regions of Reading from over 10 different secondary schools had to integrate to become one big family for the day.