(Sorry it's been a while.... it was a very busy half term!)
PATCH kids waiting patiently whilst team PATCH run PATCH Treats.
It's time for the second instalment in our 'PATCH Life' blog series and this time it's all about our VIPs (Very Important PATCH kids).
The unsung heroes of team PATCH, our VIPs affectionately known as PATCH kids, are often forgotten. When it comes to all things PATCH, these guys are the true heroes! They exemplify what it means to be a Stamshaw Star; showing resilience, kindness, patience and positivity.
These super-stars are the first ones at events, and the last to leave. They are there for the set up, the prep days, the pack downs, the sort outs and the tidy ups. A team of miniature litter pickers, with a side hustle in 'elfing', they are our marketing team, our budding market traders and our team PATCH mascots. These kids have more jobs than most adults do in their lifetimes... and then they go to school.
Sometimes, they're the best of friends, others, they've seen so much of each other they just can't stand one another.... it's not always rainbows and sunshine, they can tantrum with the best of us but you can guarantee they will show up, with a smile on their faces and do their best to help make sure everyone at our events has a great time.
For our older PATCH kids, this means inset days are not for going out with friends and having fun, they are for coming back to their old school and dressing as an elf to help at Elfridge's (what teenager doesn't want to do that?) . They get to help be on childcare duty while the adult PATCH-ers are busy (sometimes I think herding cattle would be an easier task) and it's fair to say without them, a lot of what we do would not be possible.
Sunny days are all about leaflet delivering..... and the rainy days too, these leaflets don't deliver themselves!
You could be forgiven for thinking the PATCH kids get a great deal, being at every event, getting to enjoy all the fun of the fair.... but that couldn't be further from the truth.
THESE GUYS ARE TROOPERS!
They are our gofers, our guinea pigs and usually have to entertain themselves. They NEVER get to enjoy our events with their parents. They help out on stalls, with setting up and packing down, and are often too tired to enjoy the events by the time they are in full swing. But despite all that, they all LOVE being a part of PATCH and as much as they would love to have their adults to themselves sometimes, they wouldn't change it for the world.
So here is a big shout out to all our amazing VIPs and a huge thank you from all of us at PATCH.
"I love being on PATCH, it's so much fun. We get to do fun events and I love helping"
-Thea, age 8
Here is a little snapshot into the life of a PATCH kid. They do have fun really!
