Local community success at Andover Carnival

The Andover Carnival has been a cherished community tradition for more than 100 years, bringing local people together while raising money for charity. This year, Ravenna Lodge proudly took part for the very first time, taking part in an unforgettable experience for the local community.

What started as an idea in a meeting with the people we support soon turned into months of teamwork and creativity, ending with an incredible third-place award and helping to raise funds for local charities.

We spoke to Emma Wright, Registered Manager of Ravenna Lodge, about what this day meant for her and the people she supports…

“The idea to enter the carnival first came up during a meeting with the people we support, where everyone discussed getting involved in a local community event. One person suggested taking part in the Andover Carnival, and our Deputy Manager looked into how we could enter.

Knowing the carnival was also raising money for charity made it an easy decision. Supporting our local community while giving the people we support the opportunity to be part of such a well-loved tradition felt like the perfect opportunity.”

“When it came to choosing a theme, one of the people we support had the fantastic idea of creating a Grease-themed float. Everyone loved it straight away, and planning soon began.

The people we support and colleagues worked together to bring the vision to life, gathering decorations, banners, balloons, zip ties, discs, and costumes to create a vibrant and eye-catching float.”

“The big day began bright and early at 8:30am on Sunday, 19th July, with everyone arriving to decorate the float.

The support from colleagues, families, and friends was incredible. Team members gave up their day off to help, bringing along their loved ones, while the Manager from Fritham Lodge also joined the preparations. Families donated decorations and supplies, and together everyone worked hard to complete the float in time.

After decorating, the team returned to Ravenna Lodge to help the people we support get ready. Everyone had chosen their costumes and was excited for the afternoon ahead. One person even lent us a large speaker to keep the music playing throughout the parade.

At 3pm, everyone reunited at the float alongside family members and even a former colleague who returned to lend a hand. As the parade made its way through Andover, the people we support danced along to the music while crowds cheered them on.

One particularly memorable moment came when a person we support, who has a fear of heights, bravely stepped onto the float. Although they were nervous, they stayed for the entire parade, dancing and enjoying every minute. It was a huge personal achievement and a moment that made everyone incredibly proud.

Family members and volunteers walked alongside the float throughout the parade, helping to keep everyone safe while collecting donations for the carnival charities.

“The encouragement from the crowds gave the people we support a real confidence boost, and seeing everyone enjoying themselves made the day truly unforgettable.”

“After the parade, members of the public voted for their favourite float from 25 entries.

Ravenna Lodge was then invited to attend the Andover Carnival Awards Evening at a later date, alongside the Mayor of Andover, organisers, and local sponsors. When we were announced as the winners of third place, everyone was absolutely delighted.

The people we support were over the moon with the achievement, knowing it reflected the dedication that had gone into making the day such a success.”

“The carnival also achieved an incredible fundraising result, with £9,000 raised for two local charities. Both Stormbreak and Andover Child Contact Centre received £4,500 each.

As a mental health service, supporting charities that make a positive difference within the community means a great deal to everyone at Ravenna Lodge, making the experience even more rewarding.”

“Taking part in the Andover Carnival has left the people we support feeling proud. Following the success of this year’s float, the people we support have already asked if Ravenna Lodge can take part again next year, and they’re already thinking about what theme to choose next!

A huge thank you to everyone who supported us and helped make our first Andover Carnival such an incredible success. We can’t wait for next year!”