FAMILIES in the Benarty area who have experienced isolation were able to enjoy the sunshine together last week at a gala day hosted by a Fife support group.

BRAG Enterprises, who are based at Crosshill Business Centre and provide a helping hand to struggling families, held their Square Start Gala Day in Dunfermline recently.

The event, which was free for registered families, took place at the Liberty Centre and involved games, a raffle, bouncy castle, a huge inflatable assault course, facepainting and a scavenger hunt.

Children were also able to take part in ‘Square Start’s Got Talent’, won by seven-year-old Lily Johnson-Clarke, who organisers say “stole the show” with her dance performance.

The Square Start initiative, run by BRAG (Benarty Regeneration Action Group), is a full family support project funded by Opportunities Fife’s 'No One Left Behind' fund.

It provides help for parents who are socially isolated and those who want family and parenting support, giving them social interaction with other families, such as advice on cooking on a budget and other types of training.

BRAG Enterprises was founded by a group of community activists as a direct response to the social and economic impact of the demise of the coal industry on the communities of Benarty, Kelty, Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly, an area collectively referred to as The Benarty Basin. Donations for the event were given by Stuarts, Asda, Odeon, Adventure Golf Island, Christies Dunfermline, Hollywood Bowl and The Bouncy Castle Man.

Frontline Fife helped out with volunteers on the day and Youth 1st worked to set up the ‘Got Talent’ show. All were thanked for their involvement.