Families, community organisations and local residents came together at Belle Vue Park, Wrexham, earlier this month for the ARFID Awareness Fun Day – an afternoon dedicated to raising awareness of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) through fun, community spirit and conversation.

Together Creating Communities (TCC) was proud to support the event, with Community Organiser Ruth Marshall hosting a TCC information stall throughout the day. The event was very well attended, with visitors enjoying a range of family-friendly activities, community stalls, games, crafts and opportunities to learn more about ARFID and the experiences of those living with the condition.

Most importantly, the day created space for conversations that matter.

ARFID is a recognised eating disorder, but one that is still widely misunderstood. Through community events such as this, families, professionals and local organisations can come together to build greater understanding and encourage earlier support for those affected.

The event was organised by Macy, founder of the ARFIDandME campaign, whose own lived experience has inspired her to advocate for greater awareness and understanding across Wales.

Reflecting on the day, Macy said:

“For so long, ARFID has felt like a condition that exists in the shadows. Too many people don’t know what it is, too many families are left fighting to be believed, and too many people with ARFID go without the support they desperately need. That has been my reality too, and it’s one of the reasons I started advocating and campaigning.”

For TCC, the event represented far more than just a successful community gathering. It marked the beginning of a partnership built around listening to lived experience and working alongside local people to encourage positive change.

Macy added:

“The fun day may have lasted just a few hours, but I truly believe it has marked the beginning of something much bigger. Working alongside TCC, this is only the start of a wider campaign across North Wales—one that will put lived experience at its heart and work towards real, lasting change. I hope that years from now we can look back at this event and say, ‘That was where things started to change.'”

The afternoon demonstrated the power of communities coming together. From children enjoying the activities to families learning more about ARFID, there was a real sense of positivity, inclusion and shared purpose. It was a wonderful day, with lots of fun had by all while supporting such an important cause.

Over the coming months, TCC and Macy will continue working together through the ARFIDandME campaign, sharing lived experiences, raising awareness and encouraging conversations that help improve understanding of ARFID across North Wales and beyond.

Because meaningful change begins when communities listen, learn and work together.