On Saturday 20th June, a group of young people from Boys Brigade, SAS, and Junior Church travelled down to Weymouth Sea Life Centre to raise money for Save the Children by being sponsored to stay overnight in the Shark and Turtle Tunnel.  We won this opportunity as part of the Giant Sleepover, an annual fundraising event and World Record Breaking Attempt.

The Sea Life Centre laid on a VIP tour of the park, including animal handling, special talks, and private use of the rides. After a picnic, the young people enjoyed games and a circus skills workshop, which ended with a fire juggling demonstration in the dark. Then it was off to “sleep with the fishes”.

After (a little) sleep, the children enjoyed breakfast in the sunshine, filled goody bags (provided by the Giant Sleepover’s sponsors), and then, after a last chance for photos, headed home. It was a memorable occasion full of fun but it also gave everyone the chance to do something for those less fortunate than ourselves whilst truly appreciating God’s creation and learning an important message about conservation. None of us will use as many plastic bags having heard what they do to Greenback turtles when they mistake them for their usual diet of jellyfish.

Great thanks go to Emma and all the staff at the Sea Life Centre, who gave up their time for us out of work hours. And we thoroughly recommend it for a visit. Watch this space for next year...