Fun-loving Sheffield mum urges people to hold mini festivals in their garden for charity

Summer is festival season and a Sheffield mum has come up with a way of enjoying them within covid guidelines.

Mum of two Sarah Nixon has set up the Get Sheff to Fest Facebook group to give inspiration to those who are missing the Glasto vibes.

Sarah, 39 from Southall, said: “It was a conversation I started with some friends – we were just going to have our own little festival. With covid and everything we have not seen each other for ages and we just thought we would have a get together with a mini festival in July obviously hoping that restrictions would relax by then.”

Currently the Government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact in Step 4 of its roadmap out of the pandemic which will take place no earlier than 21 June.

“I didn’t want to invite too many people so I phoned another friend who loves festivals and things like that,” said Sarah.

“I said ‘You can come to mine if you want or do it at yours as a joint thing and maybe raise a bit of money.

“She said yes absolutely but I’ll do it at mine.

“And then she phoned me back and said her in-laws want to do one as well. Then my mum and dad have been isolating for a year and they want to do their own.

“So I thought the more the merrier and that‘s where it all started.

“What better way to raise a bit of money than having your own little festival pop some glitter on and have a laugh for a change, putting a smile on people’s faces.

"The garden will look like something out of the Trolls movie, full of glitter. I’m going to dress the dog up, do some party games get some lanyards and banners done whistles and do some live videos as well, get the music playing and have some drinks and vamp it up. It will be for all ages, kids will be involved and just dress up.and try and raise as much money as possible.

Sarah normally runs the Sheffield half marathon and raises money through a Just Giving page.

She said: “I’ve not been able to do that this year – fundraising has generally taken a back seat for everyone I think.”

Sarah said the charities – Children’s mental health and Sheffield Children’s Hospital and the cardiac unit at the Northern General Hospital – are very close to her heart.

"I have someone young very close to me who has been really affected with this pandemic and has literally not left her bedroom for a year,” she said.

“I can imagine there are lots of children around South Yorkshire an Sheffield who are feeling like her.

“Just before the pandemic my uncle went in the cardiac unit for a triple heart bypass and a year on my mother in law has spent seven weeks there with a severe heart problem. The team there have saved both their lives.”

If you want to join Sarah’s fundraising efforts with your own mini-festival, visit:

https://fb.me/e/51eBNJjk4

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