A Sneak Peek into the Summer Gala 2026: What to Expect

For many years, our local gala has been held on the field and has been a fantastic event enjoyed by the whole community. After a great deal of discussion, the Community Centre Board made the decision to have this year’s gala on the Community Centre grounds again for 2026.

This decision has not been taken lightly. As a volunteer-run charity, we must carefully balance the financial risks of organising the event while ensuring the gala continues to raise the funds needed to maintain our hall for the community.   While last year’s event was moved quickly to the Centre due to the weather, we are hoping with the additional time to plan and the lessons we learned from last year, we can have a successful event this year.

The costs and risks associated with holding the event on the field have increased significantly in recent years. Portable toilets alone cost around £1,000 to hire, and any damage to them could result in costs running into the thousands of pounds. There is also the risk of damage to the playing field itself, with potential repair costs of up to £2,000 should the pitch require reinstatement after the event. 

In addition, there is increasing concern about the risk of vandalism and damage to equipment left overnight before the gala. In recent years we have experienced toilets being knocked over, increased littering, and general disruption before the event even begins. There is also the risk of damage to the Scouts’ marquee tent and other hired equipment, which could lead to significant replacement or repair costs. Event insurance to cover these risks has been explored in the past but has proved prohibitively expensive. 

At the same time, volunteer numbers have steadily declined. Setting up on the field requires a huge amount of work within a very limited timeframe.  By holding the gala at the Community Centre, preparations can be carried out more gradually over several days, with fewer volunteers and far less risk.  In the previous format, the team would be doing 25+ hours each over the 3 days of set up on top of full-time jobs, family and other commitments.  

The gala is one of the Community Centre’s most important annual fundraisers. We need to raise at least £5,000 each year simply to balance the books and continue maintaining the hall for the benefit of the community. Given the rising costs, risks and reduced volunteer support, continuing to hold the event on the field is no longer financially sustainable at present. 

We want to reassure everyone that this decision is not necessarily permanent.  We want to take this year to try the Centre as the venue again to see how it goes and then consider our options once we have seen how it can go.  If you would like to help us explore returning the gala to the field in future years, we would warmly welcome more volunteers. There will be a volunteer sign-up sheet available at the Community Centre stall during the gala, and we would encourage anyone interested in helping to come and speak to us.

Please email Secretary@kinellarcommunity.com if you would like to help this year. 

We hope the community will continue to support the gala in its new location and help us ensure this much-loved event can continue for many years to come. 

With our new Gala layout, we really hope there is still something for everyone: 

• Bouncy Room — a high-energy space for kids to jump, play and burn off excitement 

• Food Trucks — serving up tasty treats and crowd-pleasing favourites 

• Beer Tent — a relaxed spot to enjoy a drink and chat with friends 

• Live Music - showcasing brilliant local bands and performers throughout the day 

• Garden area for socialising — the perfect place to catch up with neighbours and meet new faces 

• Performance Space — dedicated space for showcasing local talent and user groups 

• Stalls and games — we’ll have plenty of space for brilliant local makers, community groups and activities 

• Quiet Space — a calm corner for anyone needing a breather 

Come along, soak up the atmosphere, and be part of a day that celebrates everything brilliant about our community. We can’t wait to see you there!