Active Withernsea and Blip Active Collaborate to Create a Thriving Annual Community Event: The Withernsea Blue Light Weekend
In August 2022, Active Withernsea joined forces with local events provider 'Blip Active' to organise the inaugural Sea and Beach Sports weekend, which was open to all ages and abilities, split over two days activities included seaside yoga, 300m paddle board race, sea swims of different lengths, family short tennis and ping pong and netball sessions ran by England Netball. This event marked the beginning of a dynamic partnership. Building on this success, the Withernsea Blue Light Weekend emerged in 2023, becoming a cornerstone event for the Withernsea community events calendar.
The 2023 Withernsea Blue Light Weekend was meticulously planned and executed by a committee consisting of eight dedicated community members. The event was strategically designed to showcase a diverse range of physical activities, directly inspired by community input, and set against the backdrop of Withernsea's unique 'Blue Space.' Activities included yoga, sea swims of varying distances, tennis, and innovative combinations like sea swims paired with short beach sprints. The inaugural weekend took place in August 2023, seamlessly integrating successful elements from the 2022 Sea and Beach Sports weekend while introducing new, inclusive activities.
Highlights of the Withernsea Blue Light Weekend 2023 included a family colour run which had over 200 participants from adults, children, and families, Withernsea's first air show, the revival of the raft race, and a compelling display by Emergency and Blue Light services. The event drew an impressive turnout, with up to 4000 attendees on Saturday and an even larger gathering of 5000 people on Sunday. Over the two-day period, Active Withernsea captured feedback and insights from the community. This valuable input laid the groundwork for the 2024 event, which will be led entirely by the community.
Active Withernsea continues to support the Blue Light Committee through a scaffolding approach, supporting their ongoing development through sharing evaluation and linking to funding opportunities. The Withernsea Blue Light Weekend has become key date in the Withernsea event calendar, and plans are already underway for the 2024 event, thanks to the generous support of local funders and business sponsors.
