South Ayrshire’s first ever cAyrFest, organised by HSCP and VASA, will take place on Saturday 22nd February in Ayr from 11am until 3pm. This free, multi-venue festival will celebrate the contribution that unpaid carers, of all ages, make to South Ayrshire – and will be open to everyone and their families to attend.

Activities on offer range across the event’s four venues, Ayr Town Hall, The Grain Exchange, The Cutty Sark Centre, and The Place, and will include: live music, archery, escape rooms, bike track, yoga, scavenger hunt, silent disco, drones, and more!

There are over 13,000 unpaid carers in South Ayrshire who this event will seek to recognise and celebrate, with research showing that 1 in 5 children in every school class has caring responsibilities. cAyrFest will not only celebrate the incredible contribution that unpaid carers make – but also raise awareness and tackle the stigma associated with caring, by opening the event up for everyone to attend.

A range of stalls and organisations will be available on the day to offer first-hand support to carers and their families, including local charity ThreeSixty, which will host a range of mental health and empowerment activities at ‘The Place’, located on Ayr’s Newmarket Street.

Free refreshments and snacks will also be on offer – including ice cream, hot dogs, and slushies (whilst supplies last).