A few years ago, BarsFest didn’t exist.
We were in our PLG Q1 meeting, talking about what to do for the summer. Lots of people in the room, plenty of opinions… but when it came to actual ideas, we were coming up a bit short.
So I asked my trusted assistant Louise to meet me on the Monday morning because I had a “brilliant idea”.
She turned up.
I had absolutely nothing.
What started as a slightly chaotic conversation turned into a BBQ, a band and a few drinks. Nothing too ambitious. Just a chance to get people together.
Somewhere along the way, it became something else.
Why It Matters
BarsFest isn’t really about the food or the music.
It’s about people.
The people we work with. The people we support. And the people who need support far beyond anything we do day to day.
This year, like last, we are raising money for LOROS Hospice and the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT).
If you’ve ever come across the work that CBIT do, you’ll know this isn’t just “charity support” in the abstract. It’s very real. It’s families navigating the hardest moments of their imaginable, and having someone there to help them through it.
For those local to Barsby, LOROS means even more. The village lost someone very special not long ago, and the care and support provided during that time left a lasting impression on all of us. It’s hard to put into words what that kind of support means when it’s needed most.
Supporting these charities feels important. Not just as a business, but as decent caring human beings.
The Bit That Makes It Happen
Each year, the event grows.
And each year, Louise somehow takes what usually starts as one of my slightly vague, half-baked, hair brained ideas and turns it into something that actually works.
She keeps everything moving, keeps the office running, and then quietly pulls this together alongside it all. It’s no exaggeration to say BarsFest wouldn’t happen without her.
This Year
We’re doing it again. Bigger than Ever!
Friday 24th July
Barsby, Leicestershire
From 6:30pm until late
Save the date.
It’s not meant to be overcomplicated.
- A BBQ
- A few drinks supplied by a London bus
- Live music from 3 bands
- A bit of entertainment
- And a chance to spend time together, away from everything else
Bring colleagues, bring friends, bring family.
The Important Bit
Last year, with the help of the people around us, we raised just under £5,000.
This year, we are aiming for £10,000.
PLG covers the cost of the event, so every penny raised goes directly to the charities.
That’s the part that matters.
If You Can
If you can come along, we’d genuinely love to see you there.
If you can’t, but still want to support, there’s a donation option when booking.
There’s no pressure. But if you feel able to get involved, it really does make a difference.
A Final Thought
BarsFest has become something we look forward to every year.
Not because it’s the biggest event or the most polished, but because it brings people together for something that matters.
And in the middle of everything else going on in this crazy world, that feels like a good enough reason to keep doing it and why this year we want it to be Bigger Than Ever!
– Phill Gill
