Grown ups and Wigglers was a fun dance and movement class for under 5’s and their parents, it was fully inclusive. The idea is that the class strengthens the bond between the parent and toddler and develops the toddlers co-ordination, and balance as well as the parent taking gentle exercise and keeping fit. There is a short refreshment break to enable the parents/carers to socialise and share stories.
We received funding from Wychavon District Council and Vale of Evesham Network of Artists to run three of these classes in Evesham, Pershore and Droitwich Spa. Classes also ran at Cherry Orchard 1st School, Inkberrow 1st School and Bengeworth 1st School on a Friday after school.
We also received funding from Rugby Borough Council to run a pilot Grown Ups and Wigglers in Rugby for seven sessions at Rugby art gallery and museum! They were on Friday’s from 10 February 2017 from 10-11am for £3.50 per session (£1.50 concessions). Additional support was available for children with additional needs from Entrust Care Partnership. We have been lucky enough to get more funding from Health Thrive, the Health Lottery. The classes are on a Friday morning from 10am to 11am at Rugby Baptist Church and costs £1 per family per week.
Also Arts Council England and Warwick and Leamington District Council also gave us funding to run some more of these classes in Warwick and Stratford Upon Avon on Mondays (St Paul’s church, Warwick 10-11am) and Fridays (Tyler House, Stratford Upon Avon 9.30-10.30am). £3.50 per session (£1.50 concussions). Additional support was available for children with additional needs from Entrust Care Partnership. The sessions were run by Kath Kimber-McTiffin from Wriggle Dance Theatre.
Bridging The Gap was an intergenerational residency project between St Mary’s Primary School and sheltered housing residents from Rooftop Housing in Broadway. The aim of the project was for the young people to gather Information about WW1 and other wars from the older people and research how Broadway was connected to the wars. This was done with the help of Rhubarb Rhubarb Creatives.
Singer/songwriter Deborah Rose and Martin Riley worked with the young people to write and produce their own songs based on the research and interviews. These were performed at the school, The Court sheltered housing and the beautiful Broadway Museum and Art Gallery as part of Evesham Festival of Words. Many thanks to Rooftop Housing, Wychavon DC, Worcestershire County Council and Evesham Festival of Words for supporting the project.
Feedback
Mrs Corke Year 5/6 teacher “this has been one of the best things we have done at this school. Thank you for such a fantastic few weeks”
Year 5/6 pupil “they have inspired me” (the artists)
Year 5/6 pupil “it was interesting to listen to the stories from WW1 and WW2”
Year 5/6 pupil “it was fun, it got me over a couple of fears and it was amazing being able to express myself” (about performing)
Year 5/6 pupil “one of the best mornings/afternoons ever!” (about the poetry and interviewing)
Veteran “absolutely wonderful” (about being interviewed)
Veteran, I enjoyed “being able to convey to the children my war time experience”
The War Songs
WAR IS A TRAGEDY
VERSE 1
Once upon a time
Ken got shot in the leg
He was a soldier
South Wales Borderer
2ndBattalion World War One
Brave as can be he got sent to Italy
To a war camp faraway
Every night he would pray
CHORUS
War is a tragedy In the name of our majesty War is a tragedy In the name of our majesty Oh war Oh war
VERSE 2
When he was at war
There was a deadly gas attack
Yelling, screaming, shouting, crying
Snipers, guns, exploding frags
Dead men were all around
Drowning in the haunting sounds
Rashes and blisters from the smoke
One by one the soldiers choked
CHORUS
Bridge
Six months on Ken was missing Presumed dead His family mourned A telegram filled with dread
VERSE 3
Until one day there was a knock on the door
Ken’s coming home for good
He lays his guns down on the floor
His mother is amazed
Tears of joy she cries
My son he is alive
A miracle before our eyes
(But it doesn’t always end this way….)
CHORUS
My Name Is Leonard William
I was there bent double gazing straight at death
‘Twas my mate there taking his final breath
As he fell from the fire on to the ground
The laughter of the enemy was the only sound
My name is Leonard William
His name is Leonard William
I fought many battles on land and sea
13 medals of honour were given to me
And of all the places in the world that I saw
It was home my heart was longing for
My name is Leonard William
His name is Leonard William
It was 10 years later he was back on the seas
When crashing waves were lashing down on he
“Hey quick boys” he shouted as he gasped for breath
He knew he couldn’t take much more as he faced death
My name is Leonard William
His name is Leonard William
Letting go was easy as the pressure pushed down
Although he made it home to his dear old town
All his families eyes were filled with tears
Looking back he had struggled through all these years
My name was Leonard William
His name was Leonard William
My name was Leonard William
His name was Leonard William
Our artists such as Tristan Pate, Nick and Karen Ledbury, Reel Eyes, Kath Kimber McTiffin have all run great music, singing, drumming, film and dance workshops for a wide variety of care homes, day care and sheltered housing agencies. The feedback was brilliant and all have thoroughly enjoyed themselves and improved their wellbeing.
On Saturday 12 November 2016 the Compton Verney Lantern Parade happened as part of the Light-In project. Arts Uplift provided the visual artists Fran Godwin and Lisa Broughton to run lantern making workshops with 3 youth clubs in the area, Wellesbourne, Lillington and Shipston. They were tasked with creating something based on Capability Brown and the landscape of Compton Verney.
The young people created all sorts of animals and Lisa Broughton was commissioned to create a centre piece which was a beautiful tawny owl! The young people thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were amazed by the colourful lighting of the building and the fire breathers and dance artists. Thanks to Fran Godwin for some of the photos.
Building on the success of the last reminiscence and arts project in care homes in Wychavon, Suitcase stories enabled 77 adults living with dementia and their carers in six Worcestershire locations to relive memories from the 40s, 50s and 60s using objects from Museums Worcestershire handling collection. The themes of the objects were work, holidays, hair and beauty, family and nature and all of the objects came in suitcases. From these memories new stories about Worcestershire’s past have been sourced and written. These were performed in six local dementia cafes by a professional storyteller Gavin Young and musician Gemma Young and were recorded by Ade Holbrook for audio uses. These activities will enable Museums Worcestershire to reach out to more audiences. They will also have a lasting new resource through the cd’s and podcasts created. Tickets were £2 per person per week which included refreshments.
The workshops took place for 6 weeks at each project across the County;
Malvern Cube, Malvern from October 2016
The Commandery, Worcester from October 2016
Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove from October 2016
The Museum of Carpet, Kidderminster-Mondays from 6 February 2017 10am to 12 noon
Forge Mill museum, Redditch-Mondays from 6 February 2017 from 2-4pm
Evesham Library-Thursdays from 9 February 2017 from, 12-2pm
The first three recordings of the stories from, Malvern, Worcester and Bromsgrove are here
The project was supported by Arts Council England, The Elmley Foundation, Worcestershire County Council, Worcestershire Arts Partnership, Malvern Hills DC, Wychavon DC, Bromsgrove and Redditch BC, Wyre Forest DC, Worcester City DC
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