National Family Week!

Family life in the UK is set to get its very own nationwide celebration with the launch of the first ever National Family Week. Taking place between 25-31 May 2009 (summer half term in England and Wales), National Family Week is about bringing families together, recognising the importance of strong families and encouraging debate about the important issues that face families in the UK today.

The week has already attracted an incredible amount of support from political leaders, celebrities and over a hundred and fifty nationwide organisations, making it the largest coalition on family issues in the UK.

Helping to get the week’s announcement off to a flying start was mum of three and Olympic champion Sally Gunnell OBE who completed a family first by leaping a hurdle ‘en famille’ with husband Jon and their three sons. Speaking out about family life, Sally said:

"Family life is not without its challenges but can be so rewarding. We lead a very active family life, but most importantly it is about doing things together as a family unit. I am delighted to be lending my support to National Family Week as it offers something for every family across the UK and I encourage everyone to get involved.”

National Family Week has even successfully won the cross party political vote with the Prime Minister, Ed Balls, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Boris Johnson all supporting the week.

A huge range of events and activities being run at a national and local level, following the week’s key activity themes, will provide a wealth of opportunities for families to have fun together. Activities planned for the week include: 

Monday 25 May:
Family Week Picnic: National Family Week will be attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Picnic across multiple venues. Spearheaded by Regents Park, picnics will take place across the length and breadth of the UK. To find out about a picnic near you or for information on how to join in our world record attempt, log on to www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk. 

Wednesday 27 May:
Family Week Story Time: National Family Week will be encouraging storytelling in all its forms throughout the day - it's any story, any time, anywhere. Storytelling is the oldest art form in the world, but in the modern world it can be done in more ways than ever before. So tell, act, sing, sign or draw a story, it’s up to you and don’t forget to register this on our online story totaliser.

Friday 29 May:
Family Week Film Friday: Whether it's a popcorn-filled family outing to the local cinema to catch the latest blockbuster, or a cosy night in at home with a DVD, National Family Week will be encouraging families to get together and watch their favourite family film. Vue Cinemas will also be announcing the UK’s all time favourite family film. 

Saturday 30 May:
Family Week Sports Day: National Family Week will be working with its sporting partners to encourage families to get out and get active. A series of local events and challenges will be run across the UK encouraging families to play or watch sport together with a range of sporting organisations onboard from England Athletics to Bowls England! 

Sunday 31 May:
Family Week Feast: round up your children, parents, grandparents, cousins, uncles and aunts and get together for the Family Week Feast. Whether it’s feasting over Sunday lunch, a BBQ in the back garden, or eating out together, the Family Week Feast is about sharing food, playing games and having fun.

National Family Week is also running a number of competitions including the search to find the UK’s Family of the Year to be announced during the week. If your family or a family you know is exceptionally charitable; courageous; adventurous or eccentric, log on now to www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk and make your nomination.

Dads' Space is proud to be running the National Family Week's Dad of the Year competition, which you can read more about here.

Other competitions include the challenge to find the UK’s all time Favourite Family Recipe – submit your tasty dish on the National Family Week website from 17th April, plus the Big Family Idea in association with the Big Lottery Fund - designed to get the nation thinking about ideas that could help improve family life in the UK.