The Little Ark Events Company: Building Inclusive Play and Stronger Communities in East Yorkshire

When Rebecca Holmes launched The Little Ark Events Company in early 2026, she set out to create inclusive, high-quality play experiences that support children, families, and communities across East Yorkshire.

Based in Beverley, the business delivers mobile children’s events and activities, including soft-play hire, messy-play sessions, sensory-friendly SEND provision, themed sleepovers, and childcare corners for weddings and other events. Drawing on Rebecca’s experience as a primary school teacher and parent, the business was founded on a strong understanding of child development and the importance of accessible family activities.

Turning an Idea into a Business

Although Rebecca had experience working with children and families, starting a business presented a new challenge.

To help navigate the process, she engaged with Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support Services, accessing start-up workshops, business advice, and grant support.

Working alongside Business Advisor Lianne Emery, Rebecca gained practical guidance on financial planning, marketing and the steps required to successfully launch her business.

Reflecting on the support she received, Rebecca said: “The start-up workshops really brought everything together. They were incredibly informative and useful. They covered all the essentials – and more – from financial planning to marketing and the practical steps of setting up a business.”

“I particularly appreciated the informal and approachable nature of the sessions. The facilitators shared their own experiences and made the content relevant by linking it to our individual business ideas.”

“It was particularly valuable and enjoyable to connect with others in a similar position. I left each workshop feeling more confident, having been able to ask questions and validate the research I had already done.”

Grant funding also enabled Rebecca to invest in durable and development-focused equipment, helping her launch sooner and expand the range of services from the outset.

Creating Community Impact

While The Little Ark Events Company offers commercial services, community impact remains central to its mission.

The business actively supports families with children who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) through sensory-friendly sessions featuring adaptable setups and visual supports. These sessions are designed to create welcoming environments where children and families can feel comfortable, supported, and included.

Alongside this, Rebecca works closely with local organisations, community groups and charities to create opportunities for families to connect and engage across East Yorkshire. Recent activities have included delivering an outdoor woodland play session in Elloughton, after local trustees sought ways to encourage greater community use of the space. She has also supported fundraising initiatives by donating equipment and volunteer time to local organisations, including Anlaby churches, helping to create family-friendly environments at community events.

The business is also contributing to wider wellbeing initiatives across the region. Working alongside East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Rebecca recently supported an event for young carers in Bridlington by hosting a dedicated pamper station, creating a welcoming and relaxing space for young people to enjoy while recognising the important caring roles they undertake.

These activities demonstrate how The Little Ark Events Company is using its business to deliver wider social value, helping to reduce isolation, encourage community participation and create inclusive opportunities for children and families across East Yorkshire.

A Strong Start for Future Growth

Since launching in January 2026, The Little Ark Events Company has quickly established itself, securing bookings throughout the year ahead while continuing to grow its client base and delivery partnerships. The business has already received some fantastic feedback from customers, showing she really does deliver on her tagline “little details, big memories!” Visit: The Little Ark Events Company to find out more.

Rebecca’s journey demonstrates how the right support at the right time can help transform a business idea into a thriving enterprise that delivers lasting benefits.

For Invest East Yorkshire, it is a strong example of how supporting start-ups can create stronger, more connected communities, while enabling local entrepreneurs to turn their ambitions into reality.

If you’re launching or growing a business and want to explore support or grant eligibility, visit: www.investeastyorkshire.co.uk/business-support

This support was delivered through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), funded by the UK Government.