Building on the fantastic success of last year, we set out to make this one even bigger, better, and brighter – and judging by the smiles, laughter, and fun all around, we absolutely nailed it.
From the moment the gates opened, the atmosphere was electric. Our large inflatables were a massive hit with younger tenants, with the Bouncy Castle, Gladiator Duel, Sticky Wall, Penalty Shootout, and Archery offering endless excitement. The ever-popular petting zoo returned, delighting animal lovers of all ages with its mix of furry, scaly, and creepy-crawly friends.
No Gala would be complete without face painters – and we had not one, but two! We were also thrilled to welcome our local Police and Fire Brigade, who spent time chatting with tenants and helping to build those all-important community connections.
We were proud to be joined by some of our valued partners, who offered advice and support throughout the day:
- Financial Fitness
- Community Links
- PH Jones (who’ve recently installed brand-new boilers in many of our homes!)
- Belville Community Gardens
Each of these organisations plays a vital role in encouraging creativity, learning, and social connection within our community.
After joining us at Christmas for the CX Dinner, we were delighted to welcome back magician Billy Reid who wowed the crowd with his mind-blowing card tricks and brilliant audience interaction. We’re still wondering how he does it!
Active Schools brought the energy outdoors, getting kids (and even a few grown-ups!) involved in a range of sports – with football, of course, stealing the show as always here on the west coast!
And what’s a Gala without some tasty treats? We served up free refreshments including pizza, hot dogs, slushies – and new for this year – candy floss for that true festival feel. A big shoutout to Purdies Pantry, who joined us to sell their delicious homemade goodies. We’ll definitely be back for more!
Michael Monoghan from Cloch Housing Association shared:
“At Cloch, our Summer Gala is one of our highlights of the year. It’s a chance for families to come together, for neighbours to connect, and for us to build stronger relationships with the people we serve. These events are about more than just fun — they’re about creating a sense of belonging and showing that we’re here, not just as a landlord, but as a partner in the community.”
“We’re incredibly grateful to Caledonian Maintenance Services for their generous support in helping us make the day possible. Their backing means we can offer something really special for local families. We’re also proud to work alongside fantastic local organisations and services — from the Fire Service and Police, to our regular partners at Active Schools and other valued independent community groups who brought so much to today’s event. These partnerships are vital in helping us support and strengthen the communities we’re part of.”
“We’re excited to keep building on this momentum, with more opportunities ahead to connect, collaborate, and celebrate everything that makes our community thrive.”
At Cloch, we absolutely LOVED this year’s Gala. Spending time with our tenants in such a fun, relaxed setting is what we’re all about. It’s days like these that bring us closer together as a community.
So, the big question is… how do we top this next year?
Stay tuned, Clochies – we’re already working on it!
