Model mum who launched first ever festival for single parents takes 'special community' nationwide

Daily Record

a day ago

Elaine Harris - who was previously a finalist in the UK's Top Model competition - came up with the concept for her one parent family festivals during Covid, with her first held on the outskirts of her hometown of Dundee.
A model mum who launched the first ever festival for single parents has seen her 'special community' go nationwide with a string of events.
Elaine Harris - who was previously a finalist in the UK's Top Model competition - came up with the concept for her one parent family festivals during Covid, holding her first on the outskirts of her hometown of Dundee.
But the event proved so popular that families were travelling hundreds of miles to be there, so the 44-year-old, a single mum to Nina, 12, and Faith, eight, is now holding five events across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
And more than 700 families have now attended her festivals in just a few years.
Elaine said: 'When I started the festivals four years ago, I never imagined that within that time over 700 families would have attended and it would now be nationwide.
'We are a social family but have struggled in the past to find non commercial, family friendly events where costs don't spiral with all the add ons.
'After speaking to other single parents a lot of them admitted that they have not holidayed on their own before, as they have worried about being sat on their own while others were in groups. This is where the idea for Single Parent Festivals was born - a festival where all activities are included in the ticket, there are no vendors and we keep the price as low as we can for everyone.'
Elaine is a former catwalk star for major designers and was a finalist in Top Model UK 2014, but she has dedicated much of her spare time in recent years to charity.
Before Covid hit, she set up and ran a pop up dental and optical clinic in Cape Verde which helped more than 1,300 children.
She took on a string of epic events to fund the mission, cycling solo from John O Groats to Lands End and even making an epic journey to Australia from her house with no money through 15 countries in just 10 days.
But when the UK was plunged into lockdown she decided she wanted to do something to help single families like hers.
According to One Parent Families Scotland, there are 144,000 single parent families across the country, making up 25% of all families with dependent children.
She said: 'I came up with the concept because there were many families struggling during Covid and more so single parent families who didn't have the support.
'I thought it would just be local people when I started it but we soon found people were travelling big distances to come to them. Mums were coming up on the Megabus from London because there was nothing else around.'
Last year Elaine branched out into two sites in England and this year she will host events in South Wales and Northern Ireland for the first time.
The camping festivals take place over five nights, with morning clubs and creches for kids of all ages included in the price, while parents can relax or try an activity themselves, from bushcraft to reiki.
A string of afternoon events, from story telling to laser tag, are also planned, along with musical performances from local musicians and other entertainment running into the evening.
Families have the option of a pre-pitched tent and kit to make their stay easier and food is also offered at affordable prices.
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There's also a dedicated camping spot for families with additional needs, such as autism and ADHD.
Elaine said the stress-free approach to holidaying is what makes families return year after year, with up to 100 families attending single events.
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She said: 'We want to take away as much stress as we can from parents so not only kids but adults can enjoy themselves to the max.
'The festival is a way of bringing everyone together and means everyone is in the same situation so it's easier for people to chat away and make friends. We are already building an online community of people who are attending this year's festival - a place where people can get to know others before they arrive.'
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The Scottish leg of the festival will be held at Douglaswood near Monikie from July 11.
Other events will follow in Omagh, Northern Ireland, between July 22-27, in Surrey, south east England, between August 2 and 7, Vale of Glamorgan, in Cardiff, South Wales, between August 12 and 17 and in Leigh, Staffordshire, between August 22 and 27.
And the mum, who is single-handedly managing all of the events, says she hopes her venture will only get bigger.
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She said: 'I do have a team once we're on site now but in the run up it's just me at the moment. I do as much as I can myself to keep the price down. The kids only pay £70 for the week.
'I'm expecting to double our numbers for next year as well.
'The overall goal, once it's on a big enough scale, will be to funnel money so I can continue with the clinic in Africa. But at the moment the focus is on making the festivals as successful as possible.'