Young and old have been enjoying holidays at home this summer – thanks to St Paul’s Walton and St Helen’s, Sandal, Wakefield.
Every Thursday during the summer holidays there have been creative activities for families on the nearby Portobello estate, including dance, art, drama and clowning skills. The days are organised by St Helen’s Sandal, through the Portobello Community Forum in collaboration with Inspiring Community.
Soul Portobello was first set up as a community festival in 2005, with the final annual event planned for 2012 linked to the Olympics. As the event has proved so popular Portobello Community Forum (PCF) and a number of dedicated community volunteers and the local church have carried on organising events during the summer holidays ever since.
St Helen’s Sandal and St Paul’s Walton also organise a holiday at home for those who are elderly 
and or housebound, to enjoy three days of craft activities, aerobic chair exercise, games, a quiz, and a sing-a-long.
Each day a visiting speaker gives a talk; pictured right is one of St Paul’s worship leaders demonstrating English Folk music on various instruments.
There is a time of worship followed by a lunch provided by the Community cafe, The Spring.
The placemats on the table, left, were designed by year 3 children from the Church school Sandal Castle Primary.
The vicar, the Revd Rupert Martin said: “Some 50 elderly people were served by up to 30 volunteers this year making this a beautiful and enjoyable holiday.”