2017 was a busy year for BOB, having received funding from First for Wellbeing and Northamptonshire Community Foundation.  With the funding we were able to employ a Park Wellbeing Coordinator to coordinate BOB's work and organise new activities. We started up Sunday morning health walks, and welcomed groups to the park such as the walking football team.  BOB supported Northampton Inter Faith Forum in their sponsored walk around the park and along the river.  BOB was joined by lots of supporters at The Ark, the floating restaurant in Midsummer Meadow, for our first birthday celebrations in June.  Love Your Park week took place in July, so we had a tea and tidy up event, accompanied by a violinist.  Local photographer Matthew Toresen helped us to create Portraits in the Park of BOB volunteers.  July also saw the first Mela take place, celebrating the town's communities talents.  It was a lovely sunny day and Beckets Park hosted 500 people enjoying the perfomances and food and learning how to bangra! September welcomed local tai chi and yoga teachers for people to try taster sessions at the Mind, Body and Spirit event.  BOB was invited to have a stand at the Chief Constable's supper in October, where we able to meet lots of other community groups and share the positive community work we have all been involved in over the year. In December we held our first Christmas Elf Door Hunt, and despite being snowed off, we rearranged and welcomed over 100 people to search for the hidden elf door in the park.  All of these activities were possible due to funding from Northampton Borough Council, First for Wellbeing and Northamptonshire Community Foundation, Northamptonshire Police and the University of Northampton.  We were also really grateful to Tools for Self Reliance for their donation of tools, which meant we could carry on with our litter picks and tidying of the park.