“Why is Blackpool Tower Turning Orange?”

Information for Schools

Is your school ready for 16th October? something magical will happen in Blackpool

On Thursday 16 October 2025, the Blackpool Tower will shine bright orange.

This marks 15 years of the Happy House children’s home in Watamu, Kenya which was founded by Blackpool’s own Sue and Dave Hayward and falls on the birthday of Mama Sue, the much-loved mama Sue whose vision created the Happy House. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy continues to transform children’s lives. Since opening in 2010, the Happy House has given a safe, loving family to children who had nowhere else to turn, and today it is also a thriving school at the heart of its community.

We’d love your school to share this story of friendship by replying to our children with letters, photos, videos or other creative ideas. Please send them to happyhouse@childrenofwatamu.org.

Beyond Kenya, it’s a reminder that every child deserves a safe, happy childhood a belief at the heart of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Read the Story Together

We’ve created a short, child-friendly story that explains why the Tower will glow orange and introduces the Happy House.

It’s perfect for:

Assemblies
Story time in class
Bedtime reading at home

Connect your children with our children

Here are some simple ideas on how your school can take part:

Write to our children in Kenya. Letters, drawings, photos or short videos are all welcome. We’ll share your messages with the Happy House family. If you’re already teaching writing, this is a wonderful way to give your pupils a real audience in Kenya and a meaningful purpose for their work.

Create & Colour. Draw or colour in the Blackpool Tower, decorate it orange, and write a message for our children. Display it in your classroom as part of the countdown and then send us a photo to share.

Classroom Discussion: Start a conversation with your pupils: Why do landmarks light up? What makes a family? How can we show kindness to people we’ve never met? These questions build empathy and global awareness.

Donate or Sponsor: The Happy House can only provide love, care, shelter, food, education, clothes and everything else children need thanks to donations and sponsorship. Your school might like to run a fundraiser, or even sponsor a child for £20 a month – building a lasting friendship between your school and the Happy House family, while giving pupils a constant purpose to work towards.

A letter to Blackpool Schools

Every primary school in Blackpool will receive a handwritten letter from one of our children. Many were written outside under the light of a solar lamp, because electricity often cuts out.

Even with these challenges, the letters are filled with joy, hope and excitement about connecting with you.

If you have not received your letter by 1st October please email us: happyhouse@childrenofwatamu.org and we’ll be happy to email you a copy.