The Easter Eggs-travaganza was an afternoon filled with laughter, games, and plenty of delicious gluten free treats. From an exciting Easter egg hunt to a gluten free bring and share buffet, there was something for everyone to enjoy. 
 
We reached out to group hosts Sally, Leanne and Kerry, to find out more about the event, the impact the group has had on their local community and their plans for the future. 

Q. Sally, Leanne and Kerry, tell us about your recent Easter Eggs-travaganza event, what did it involve? 

A. Since the group was formed in 2005, our Easter events have always been well received by the community. Easter is always an exciting food event for families and this event gives children the chance to participate and have fun in an inclusive and safe environment. The event included an Easter egg hunt, lots of fun easter activities, a gluten free buffet, and a treat for all of the children.  

Q. Do you have any personal experience with coeliac disease? 

A. Yes, we all have children with coeliac disease and Leanne also has the condition, so we have lived experience and know how important support can be, not only for the children but the families too.  

Q. How does the Young Wolverhampton Local Group support children with coeliac disease and their families throughout the year? 

A. As well as our Easter event, we run several other events throughout the year, including cooking events, a picnic in the park, community walks, a scare and share Halloween event, a Christmas party, plus visits from local dietitians. 

All our events include a gluten free buffet, activities for the children and opportunities for families to share their tips, advice and experiences. We encourage the whole family to come and join the events, as well as relatives and friends. 

We understand that families enjoy being in an environment where people just ‘get it’, where they can relax and know their children will be safe and meet other individuals who are living the same experiences. Children can meet others like them and build their confidence at the same time. 

The success of the Easter Eggs-travaganza event would not have been possible without the generous supporters of the event, including Coeliac UK’s commercial partners Schar Gluten Free UK and local organisations providing us with free venues for our events. This is important so that we can keep costs down for the local families. 

Q. What are your future plans for the Local Group and for raising awareness within the community? 

A. Social media has been key in helping our Local Group reach others. We've also had other Coeliac UK Groups reach out to us for ideas, help and tips. We currently have families travelling up to two hours to us and are keen to support people in other areas to set up their own children’s support group with the help of Coeliac UK. We attend community well-being events to help raise awareness. We have also taken leaflets to the local hospital to give to families who have recently been diagnosed.  

As a team we want to continue what we do and support other families with a lived experience of coeliac disease. We enjoy what we do and love to see the smiles on families faces.   

Thank you Sally, Leanne and Kerry for sharing these details with us and for your continued support.