What was on in the Community Tent. . . .
From Friday, 15th May through Sunday 17th, the St Ives Food & Drink Festival was back in town. With top chefs, artisan workshops and tastings, and live music, Porthminster Beach was abuzz with vibrant seaside energy. There were also a number of stall holders in the Wellness Zone – including the Edward Hain Centre.
We were in the Community Tent, joining other community groups to share activities and connect with festival-goers. Our EHC staff – director Sharron, office manager Kerrie, and community hub officer Claire Jefferies, did a fantastic job manning (or womanning) our stall for the weekend, along with several other lovely volunteers to whom our gratitude goes as always. Thank you Sarah, Trish and trustee Claire Sutcliffe.
Pilchard the Pirate
Thanks are also due to our special guest Pilchard the Pirate , who graced our stall with his swashbuckling charrrms on Friday 15th . Pilchard was huge boon during the St Ives Shanty Shout, and joined us again to use his piracy powers of persuasion to support our fundraising team. He also helped promote the lottery, and our health and wellbeing activities.
With many thanks to the lovely Jason Wilkinson for generously sharing his alter ego….
Fundraising
New this year on our fundraising stage was a £100 Cash Prize Lottery, which ran all weekend. The winning ticket was announced at 4PM on Sunday 17th… but the winner was nowhere to be seen! Eventually he was found, and turned out to be a visitor to St Ives: Colin, with no surname on the ticket. After a weekend of an unmatched food and drink experience, lucky Colin no doubt also headed home a hundred pounds happier!
With our thanks to St Ives BID
The community tent is always organised by St Ives BID , who were there along with their fantastic discount St Ives Gold Card; St Ives Town Council (with representatives from their youth arm, Yonkers, St Ives Guildhall, and Cornerstone Library); St Ives Air Ambulance; St Ives Hospices, with their supporting Retro Cornwall stores; Pandemonium Projects, who create pioneering plant-based clothing; St Ives School of Painting; and last but very much not least, the Co-Op, who have been so wonderfully supportive of us on several occasions – not least in their Community Lottery last year (2024/25).
It was lovely being part of such a great selection of local organisations!
