Families from Lithuania, Poland, Spain, and Portugal were among those who attended the free public event at Ravenswood Community Children’s Centre in Henning Avenue today.

Ipswich Star: Family fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERFamily fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

“Children from first and second generations were exposed to different ethnicities and they all mixed really well together, which was nice to see,” said Charmaine Keep, a family support practitioner at Suffolk County Council, which runs the children’s centre.

Ipswich Star: Family fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERFamily fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

“The children were sharing, playing and talking together, which is important as it prepares them for school and helps them to accept others. It was a really positive community event – especially with what is going on in the news.

Ipswich Star: Camila Oliveira, four, running after bubbles. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERCamila Oliveira, four, running after bubbles. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

“The children could see and hear other languages being spoken – and that other children also have a mummy and also play with toys. Some mothers spoke in their mother tongue to one child and English to another. It helps break down the barrier (among parents) as English speaking parents could see that others are actually doing their best to speak English and teach their children.”

Ipswich Star: Family fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERFamily fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

Ipswich Star: Family fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERFamily fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

Ipswich Star: Family fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERFamily fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

Ipswich Star: Iva Simkova with her son Oliver. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERIva Simkova with her son Oliver. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

Ipswich Star: One-year-old Denni and Ashton Hughes, aged two-and-a-half. Picture: JAMES FLETCHEROne-year-old Denni and Ashton Hughes, aged two-and-a-half. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

Ipswich Star: Iva Simkova with her son Oliver. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERIva Simkova with her son Oliver. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

Ipswich Star: Family fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERFamily fun day held by Ravenswood Community Children's Centre in Ipswich. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)

Ipswich Star: Adam, aged three-and-a-half. Picture: JAMES FLETCHERAdam, aged three-and-a-half. Picture: JAMES FLETCHER (Image: James Fletcher)