The organisers behind Histon & Impington community fireworks have announced a pause for 2026 citing increasing levels of work, a requirement to register as a Charity and a pressing need for more volunteers amongst the reasons for the break.
Talking to HI HUB, committee chair James Furness emphasised the “very real need for people to take on trustee and leadership roles” and thanked departing treasurer Heather Stone for her “many years of dedication to the role”.
Fellow team member Katy Harbottle, volunteer with Histon & Impington Brook Primary PTA, explains: “Over the last few years the number of volunteers we’ve been able to recruit to lead aspects of the event has dwindled, meanwhile the number of volunteers and level of work needed has increased”.
The event has grown so much in recent years that it is now necessary for the committee to register as a community organisation with the Charity Commission and recruit a board. “We also know we need to give more thought to how to improve ticketing, accessible parking and security for the event”, shares Katy. “Taking a year off will give us chance to recruit more volunteers and come back bigger and better next year!”
Making a difference
2024’s display saw around £8,400 shared between the three village schools and Histon Scouts and last year’s event distributed just over £7,500 to our village schools and event charity helpers.
Money raised at the event serves as a much needed boost for our village school PTAs and, at Histon & Impington Brook Primary, their donation has provided a brand new sensory room – the finishing touches to which are currently underway.
“This new room provides a nurturing space for children (and staff!) to regulate and relax when they need it”, says Katy. “The room features sensory lamps and lighting, bubble tubes, fibre optics and reactive touch pads to help calm or stimulate children when they need it during the school day. As we all know, government budgets for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities are constantly under pressure and we are delighted to have been able to support such a thoughtful and needed project”.
The room will be completed later this term.
Histon & Impington Park Primary has used their share from 2024 to enhance their playground equipment and, at Impington Village College, the donation from 2024 has gone towards a range of smaller charitable projects which will benefit different year groups.
2027 needs you!
Organisers are optimistic the event will be back in 2027 but it badly needs more volunteers. The team needs volunteers to help at the event but it also needs new people to step into a variety of leadership roles and join the committee in the planning process.
The Committee welcomes feedback and thoughts shared from last year’s display revealed difficulties surrounding accessibility. “We have an improved plan for disabled parking and are also giving thought to how we can improve signposting for the ‘quiet’ room”, assures chair James. “Please step up and help us make this event the best it can be!”
If you would like to get involved with organising 2027’s display, please get in touch. Roles needed include communications, sponsor recruitment and the organisation of food vendors.
Interested volunteers can contact the team via hifireworks1@gmail.com.
READ ALSO: Fireworks Extravaganza grants boost village schools fundraising and Back with a bang – fireworks extravaganza returns for 2022
There are over 1400 kids at IVC alone – surely some parents can volunteer for this?
Have you advertised for people to step up?
Very disappointing to hear it’s cancelled this year, it’s been a regular and enjoyable event for so long!
Before anyone asks, I volunteered on the ticket desk for many years, long after my kids had left the village schools, but it was the same people helping year in year out…