Community and cause come together for silent disco among the sunflowers
A silent disco set among a field of sunflowers has raised £600 for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), thanks to the support of local businesses and the community.
The unique event was held at Higher Tregorrick Farm, near St Austell, which has supported CHSW’s Little Harbour children’s hospice for several years through proceeds from both its popular pumpkin patch and sunflower trail.
This year, the hospice team decided to make the most of the spectacular sunflower setting by creating an event of its own, inviting people to don a pair of headphones and dance among the flowers while raising vital funds for local children and families.
The event was made possible thanks to the generosity of local businesses, including Innovation Nursery, which provided all the food and drink completely free of charge, as well as security for the evening.
This support meant that £17.50 from every ticket sold could go directly to CHSW, with just £2.50 per ticket covering costs at Higher Tregorrick Farm.
Headphones for the event were supplied by Newquay-based company Silent HQ Disco.
The silent disco raised a fantastic £600 for Little Harbour, CHSW’s children’s hospice in St Austell, which provides care for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Sarah-Jane Hoskin, Area Fundraiser for CHSW, said: “When the opportunity arose to create something special amongst the sunflowers, we knew it had to be an event that brought our local community together. What better way to do that than with a silent disco set amongst the sunflowers.
"The idea was inspired by our desire to create a fun and unique experience while helping local families and friends make unforgettable memories, something that lies at the very heart of what we do here at the hospice.
We were incredibly fortunate to receive support from our neighbours at Innovation Nursery, who supplied all the food and drinks locally. Not only did this help keep our carbon footprint low, but it also showcased the fantastic produce created right here on our doorstep. Their support enabled us to maximise the impact of ticket sales, ensuring that even more vital funds could be directed towards supporting babies, children, and young people cared for by the hospice.
Sustainability was also an important part of the event. We offered a selection of fun disco accessories; all sourced from our local charity shops. This helped reduce waste, encouraged reuse, and supported efforts to combat the impact of fast fashion within our community.
The silent disco was a truly memorable occasion, and we are immensely grateful for the support shown by our local community. We look forward to creating something just as spectacular next year and once again extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make the event such a success.
Lynné Raubenheimer, Creative Director at Innovation Nursery, said:
Little Harbour does work that matters to every family in Cornwall who needs it, and being asked to support an evening like this, among the sunflowers, is the kind of invitation you say yes to straight away. We're an innovation campus, but we're also a neighbour, and this is what being a good one looks like: turning up, cooking well, and making sure people have a proper drink in hand while they raise money for something that counts. Cornwall looks after its own, and we're proud to be part of that this time round.
Children’s Hospice South West provides specialist palliative, respite, end-of-life and bereavement care to children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families across the region.
Its Little Harbour hospice in St Austell supports families from across Cornwall and Plymouth, providing a home-from-home where families can spend precious time together and make special memories.