Family Flourish Day 2025: What We Felt, What We Learned, What Comes Next
On Sunday 22 June, we transformed Roxby Community Garden into a lively hub of performances, laughter and connection for Family Flourish Day — our annual summer celebration held as part of Refugee Week.
This year’s Refugee Week theme, “Community as a Superpower”, felt especially alive across Lincoln Green. We welcomed over 250 people into the garden for an afternoon of music, dance, art, food, and play.
From a drum circle that kicked off the day, to Chinese and Zimbabwean dance workshops, silly sessions for kids, and new friendships forming over shared plates of food — the event captured what we love most about working in this vibrant community.
“Everywhere was filled with laughter and joy. The children were having a great time!”
What We Heard
We handed out short feedback cards throughout the day, asking people how the event felt and what stood out.
Here’s what you told us:
97% said they enjoyed the event
87.9% said they felt happier or calmer after attending
64.5% felt more connected with others in their community
95% rated the activities and staffing 5 out of 5
Most also gave the venue and programme top marks
Your highlights? Music, dancing, good food and just being together.
“Warm and joyful.”
Who Came
Half of attendees came from LS9 postcodes, with many others travelling in from across Leeds
25% were first-time visitors to the garden
Others were familiar faces from our regular refugee workshops in Leeds, like Kuluhenna Drama and Lincoln Greeners
What We Learned (And Why It Matters)
1. It’s the simple things that stick
When asked what they loved most, people mentioned dancing, drumming, sharing food and making art. These kinds of moments don’t require specialist knowledge or confidence, just openness. They reminded us that joy, connection, and belonging don’t need to be complicated. Sometimes, a plate of food and a drumbeat are all it takes.
2. Art helps people take part on their own terms
Arts-based activities are especially popular with children and families. These hands-on, low-pressure activities make it easy for people to engage and offer a calm, creative way to get involved and feel part of the day.
3. Community care is reciprocal
People weren’t just excited to attend, they wanted to give back. Many offered to volunteer, perform, or bring food to future events. We also noticed that people want more more regular events, more ways to be involved and more welcoming spaces to show up as themselves
Room to Grow
No event is perfect, and we’re grateful for the honest feedback that will help us grow.
Some attendees flagged things like:
Windy weather and crowded stall placement that made certain activities tricky
Signage and layout could be improved to ease navigation
Some activities attracted mostly children - we’ll explore more ways to encourage intergenerational involvement
Attendees asked for more seating and shaded areas, and quieter spaces to take breaks from the buzz
We’re already thinking about how to co-design next year’s event in a way that feels even more spacious, more collaborative, and more welcoming for all.
We’re proud to continue building this work alongside the people who show up, get stuck in, and share their stories with us.
Thank you for dancing with us, eating with us, laughing with us, and showing that community really is a superpower.
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