Why hold a family fun day?

When planning a family fun day for your company, first think about your objectives. Is it to strengthen your culture, boost morale, or celebrate a business success? Perhaps it’s all of the above. Maybe it’s something you want to hold every year as an annual event. Regardless of your objectives, the most important reason to hold a family fun day is to have fun, providing an informal environment for employees to relax with their peers.

A family fun day can offer a whole host of benefits, including:

Reinforces company values and ethos

Holding an event for your employees and their families says a lot about you as a company. It sends a clear message that you care about your employees and are willing to invest time and money in their happiness.

Boosts morale

Family fun days can provide a fantastic boost to morale. Employees tend to come back to work feeling better connected, refreshed, and raring to go!

Shows your appreciation

A family fun day is a great way to show your staff how appreciated they are. This is especially important during any big changes to your organsation or following challenging times. It’s a great way to thank them for all the hard work they’ve put in.

Strengthens relationships

Bringing your employees and their families together in a relaxed and informal setting is a great way for them to get to know each other on a deeper level. Colleagues who’ve battled it out in a sports race, cheered on by family members, will know each other a lot better by Monday morning!

Planning your day

From the type of activities to entertainment, food and choosing a venue, there’s a lot to think about when planning a family fun day. Here are some thoughts to help you get started.

What sort of fun day do you want to host?

Deciding what sort of fun day you want to host depends on your staff and their families, as well as your business. What do your employees like doing? How old are their children and what activities would appeal to that age range? What kind of event would fit with your company values and ethos? 

For example, are your staff active and adventurous? If so, you might want to incorporate activities like abseiling or an archery session. If you’ve got very young kids coming, a bouncy castle, magician, or face painting is a good idea. If the kids are a bit older, they may enjoy an SAS obstacle course or sports like cricket and rounders. Or a bird of prey experience could delight both kids and adults alike.

You may want to give your day a theme. For example, a festival event is a great way to treat your staff and their families. And it offers a wide range of options when it comes to styling, decoration and the attractions you can bring to your event. Think food stands, live music, and roaming acts like stilt walkers or bubble blowers to keep people entertained. Or how about holding a sports day? A day packed full of competitive games and races is sure to boost team morale and is a great way to get everyone involved. Choose activities to suit a broad range of tastes so that everyone feels included.

What kind of food should you serve?

Food is a big part of any event. If your event is taking place in the summer, a barbecue is sure to be a hit with both younger and older guests. A buffet is another great option as it allows guests to eat when they want, which is ideal if you have people joining at different times throughout the day. Food trucks are a great way of offering a range of options. They can also create a great atmosphere and talking points to the day. For smaller gatherings, you may prefer to host a sit down meal where you can spoil your guests with multiple courses and give them a chance to get into deep conversations with the people around them.

Where should you hold your event?

When it comes to choosing a venue for your family fun day, you’ll first need to consider practical elements, like location. Ideally you’ll want somewhere that’s easily accessible for your employees and their families so that everyone can attend. If you have people coming from further afield, be sure to check out the local accommodation to ensure there are suitable options. You’ll also want to think about how many people will be attending. A venue that’s too small could feel cramped, while a venue that’s too big may lack atmosphere. 

Of course you’ll need to ensure the space is right for the type of event and the activities you wish to incorporate too. For a festival themed summer BBQ party you’ll want lots of outdoor space. You may also want to consider requirements for a marquee in case of wet weather. And if you’re intending to have fairground rides and food trucks, you’ll need to make sure it’s possible to get them there.