The Big Community Paddle

Volunteering Gala Celebrates King’s Coronation

Everyone is invited to ‘The Big Community Paddle, Picnic and Volunteer Village’ at Enniskillen Castle on Bank Holiday Monday 8th May from 11.00am to 5.00pm.

‘The Big Help Out’ and ‘The Coronation Big Lunch’ are two UK-wide campaigns marking the King’s forthcoming Coronation.

Both campaigns are focussed on fun and celebration while inspiring people to volunteer and help out in our local communities.

With its unique island location hosting one of the most westerly Coronation celebrations in the UK, Enniskillen is laying on a host of extra events and already over 40 local volunteer groups have signed up to take part and showcase their work.

With free admission to Enniskillen Castle Museums, the day will be packed with live music and entertainment for all the family.

There’s a Volunteer Village, showcasing our fabulous local groups, charities and societies within our community. Volunteer representatives from health, heritage, sport, youth, music and wellbeing groups will be readily available to explain the support and services that they provide.

It’s a chance to discover the joys and challenges of volunteering, to find out about helping others and to make a real difference within the community.

There’s something for everyone – traditional cookery, weaving, boating, steam engines and heritage demonstrations and children’s craft activities & climbing walls.

Visit the Kindness Postbox; listen to the Fermanagh Concert Band, watch The Erne Hyland Dancers and enjoy the historic venue on an historic day!

Adding to the already ample supply of friendship, food and fun, BBC Radio Ulster will be broadcasting live from the Castle throughout the day.

Everyone is encouraged to make a day of it, bring a picnic and become part of the ‘The Big Coronation Lunch’ in the company of BBC Presenters Connor Phillips, Hugo Duncan and Lynette Fay.

A special highlight of the day is ‘The Big Community Paddle’ organised by the RNLI.

This is a unique opportunity to support our local volunteer lifeboat crew, raising funds by paddling around our historic island town in a canoe, kayak or paddle board.

Enniskillen RNLI invites both individual paddlers and sporting, charity, youth, community & business groups to register for this spectacular flotilla on Lough Erne and to be part of ‘The Big Help Out’.

Registration is through the RNLI Eventbrite page or you can just register on the day.

‘The Big Community Paddle, Picnic and Volunteer Village’ is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland, Lough Erne Landscape Partnership, RNLI, Eden Project Communities, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Enniskillen Bid and organised by local community, voluntary and charitable organisations.