On Sunday 26th April 2026, families, volunteers and entertainers joined us at Winterbourne Medieval Barn for our annual Jessie May Day. It was a really special afternoon spent together.
As the barn opened at 2pm, the space quickly filled with that familiar Jessie May feeling – a place where families can relax, where children can explore at their own pace, and where every reaction and emotion is met with understanding and care.
As one mum, Dana, beautifully put it:
“Zeniah can get a bit overwhelmed or over stimulated, but it’s great at these events because everyone’s expecting that sort of reaction and just gets it.”
That’s exactly what Jessie May Day is all about – creating a space where families feel held, supported and understood.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our partners and volunteers, families enjoyed a huge range of activities throughout the afternoon.
🎈 Teddy Parachute Launches
One of the biggest highlights of the day was the teddy parachute drop, made possible by:
- Nationwide Platforms – who donated the cherry picker
- Cameron Balloons – who donated their off-cuts to us to make the parachutes
- Alice, who lovingly made every parachute by hand
- Alice’s husband and volunteers who bravely helped launch the teddies high into the air
Seeing children cheering as their teddies floated down was pure joy.
🐐 Goat Therapy
Our friends at Pear Tree Recruitment kindly sponsored the goat therapy session run by The Little Farming Company, giving families the chance to meet and gently interact with the goats. For many of the children, it offered a quiet, calming moment in the day.
🎨 Clay Crafting with Go Sketch
The brilliant team from Go Sketch ran free clay‑making sessions, helping children create their own masterpieces. The tiny hands of the children were shaping, rolling and proudly showing off their creations.
🎵 Live Music from Bristol Beacon
Musicians from Bristol Beacon filled the barn with beautiful live music throughout the afternoon, creating a relaxed, uplifting atmosphere that families could enjoy while exploring the activities.
✨ Lucy Lost-It’s Shows and Bubbles
The wonderful Lucy Lost-It brought her signature magic, laughter and giant bubbles. Her performances had children (and adults!) giggling, dancing and chasing shimmering bubbles across the grass.
🎨 Face Painting by Naomi from Poppy and Perle
Naomi’s beautiful face painting added a lovely splash of colour to the afternoon. Children enjoyed choosing their designs and watching them come to life – and a few adults, including staff and volunteers, couldn’t resist joining in as well.
🧸 Treasure Hunts and More
Families also enjoyed:
- A sibling treasure hunt through the vegetable garden
- Photography by the talented Julian Burr, who volunteered his time to capture the heart of the day with his beautiful images
- Ice cream – by Marshfield Ice Box Company – A big thank you for keeping our volunteers cool and happy with complimentary ice creams
- And plenty of space to relax, chat and connect – including cosy hay‑bale seating kindly provided by The Cotswold Hay Bale Company
- There was also an accessible Mobiloo provided by Swindon Council.
The whole venue, from the open barn to the grassy outdoor area, was alive with happy faces.
A big thank you to everyone involved – our staff, volunteers, partners and sponsors, whose generosity and support helped make the day feel so warm and welcoming for our families.
Jessie May Day is always more than a family fun day. It’s a chance for families to come together in a space that feels relaxed, welcoming and understanding. A place where children can be themselves and where parents can take a moment to breathe.
We’re already looking forward to next year.
