On Saturday 24 June 2017 the Centre for Attention, Learning and Memory (CALM) hosted a children’s summer party at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge (MRC CBU).

Since opening in 2014, CALM has conducted assessments with over 500 families with the aim of identifying the cognitive, behavioural, neural and genetic dimensions that underpin learning difficulties in childhood. Later this year, families who have previously visited CALM will be invited back to complete the assessments again, approximately three years after their visit. This new and exciting phase of the project that will enable us to understand how and why learning difficulties change as children get older.

The children’s summer party was a celebration of the fantastic developmental research taking place in CALM and more widely at the MRC CBU. It was organised as a thank you to families for their past and future participation in our studies.

The party took place on a sunny day in June and involved face painting, a giant inflatable slide, garden games and an excellent show by entertainer Stevie Spud. The families enjoyed a buffet lunch and unlimited ice cream from Carlo’s Ices. Feedback from families included: “the children’s activities were thoroughly enjoyed”, “the food was yummy”, “it is great to meet the CALM team and see many familiar faces”, and “it has been really good to connect with other families”.

The event was organised by CALM’s Joni Holmes, Annie Bryant, Fánchea Daly and Sally Butterfield and supported by many excellent volunteers from the CALM and MRC CBU who helped make the event a huge success.