Right in the middle of the summer festival season in the island, there is one event in particular with a very particular message at heart.

The Mannkind festival takes place at the Silly Moos campsite, Lezayre, on Sunday, July 15.

Featuring a whole day’s worth of entertainments, crafts and activities, the festival has been arranged by Georgie Revill, the founder of the Cook Shack, in Bride and also the founder of the SKILS - Skills for Independent Living Scheme charity, and is aimed directly on those with additional living needs, learning differences and physical disabilities.

The festival is being organised by Georgie, and run by a team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers on a non-profit basis, with the idea firmly focused on creating a friendly, safe and non-threatening environment where people, who otherwise would either possibly feel excluded from attending music and family festivals, or struggle with the crowds or the noise such an event can bring, can relax, enjoy the festivities and let themselves be themselves.

Georgie, who herself has an autistic son, Ollie, who is 26, wanted to create a day where people with disabilities, and their carers, could come without any fear of stigma, and to create the space to celebrate the island’s special needs community.

’I really thought that people with additional needs, be they learning or physical needs, deserve a day of celebration for themselves, and for their carers and their families,’ said Georgie.

’And, most importantly, I wanted to create a public space and an environment where they won’t be judged.’

The festival will be opened by Ayre MHK Tim Baker at 11am, and will run until 9pm.

The stage, being provided and run by Flo the coffee van, will feature Dylis Sowrey and Marlene Hendy, David Castro, Matt Kelly, Lee Brookes and the Manx rap group Han-FX.

There will be a wide range of artisan food stalls, Isle of Man Goats will have a goat-petting park, there will be a ’mocktail’ bar, run by Peggy and Lewis.

There will also be a host of crafts and games, run by local community artist Sue Quilliam and members of the Community Farm, along with pampering sessions with the Glampervan and fitness sessions with a pilates instructor.

In addition there will be information stands for such charitable services and many of the therapies on offer.

There will also be puppet shows, a karaoke stage and quiet, chill-out zones.

Georgie wanted to involve the Community Farm, run by the Children’s Centre and situated on Douglas Head, as much as possible, as her family has many connections with the charitable institution, through her brother Nigel Revill, who created many of the feature buildings at the farm, and also in recognition of the work they carry out on behalf of the special needs community on the island.

She feels that there is a huge gap in the services offered to people with physical and learning difficulties once they leave the education system, which makes the work carried out by the Community Farm especially important.

’The community farm fills a very big gap to provide people with the support and purpose they need,’ said Georgie.

’I wanted to tie the farm in with the Mannkind festival, as they are one of the very few organisations that provide people with needs with a role or a sense of purpose once they leave education.

’But I really want this festival to provide a focal point, and also to let people know who is out there to help,’ she said.

’We will have sailing for the disabled, who provide an amazing service, there will be many different therapists and care groups.

’Above all, it is a day to recognise these people, and to not have them feel like they are being judged for being in public.

We want to let people with additional needs just have some fun and, hopefully, a day out in the sunshine.’

Tickets for Mannkind are priced at £5 each, or £20 for a family of 5, available online through gef.im/mannkind

Georgie is very grateful the sponsors of the festival, the Manx Lottery Trust, Greystone LLC, Gef the Mongoose, Conister Trust, Charities of Mann and Silly Moos.

by Mike Wade

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