Making connections at Spring Harvest

In the run-up to Easter, staff from Pilgrims’ Friend Society headed to the Butlin’s resort in Minehead to take part in the annual Spring Harvest event. We were proud to be part of the Skyline exhibition, surrounded by inspiring organisations like Faith in Later Life, Redeeming Our Communities (ROC), and OM UK. Our stand soon became a lively focal point, drawing in visitors and sparking engaging, thought-provoking conversations about what it means to be older.

Just behind us, live music from the nearby stage added to the atmosphere, but it was our hands-on activities that really grabbed people’s attention, combining fun with reflection on care, ageing, and community.

With our ‘Drop a pin on where you live’ activity, visitors were invited to place a pin on our large map to show where they were from, giving us the opportunity to share about the homes and schemes we provide across the country. Many were pleased to find we had a presence close to where they live. It became a lovely way to connect, one pin at a time.

Another highlight was our ‘Beat the clock’ challenge. Participants had just 30 seconds to complete a jigsaw puzzle, but with an added twist — they had to wear either gloves, an eye patch, or distortion goggles. The extra difficulty wasn’t just for fun; it was a simple but powerful way to convey how simple activities can become more difficult the older you get and raise awareness about the realities of ageing.

The activity sparked some thoughtful conversations. One participant shared, “Trying to do the puzzle with gloves and goggles was surprisingly difficult – it really helped me appreciate the everyday challenges older people face.”

We also had a good conversation with people who knew our care homes as their relatives had previously lived there.

One visitor said, “I know Middlefields House very well, my father lived there for a few years before he passed and loved it!”

Whether people came by for the map, the challenge, our resources, or just a friendly chat, we were grateful for every conversation. Spring Harvest gave us the chance to share our message of supporting older people through Christian care and community in an exciting way, surrounded by worship and the spirit of Jesus’ love.

We are looking forward to visiting next year!