Incredible creations by young people in Wolverhampton We were deligted to be one of the funded projects delivering HAF Activities* over the Feb Half Term school holidays in Wolverhampton. *The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, introduced in 2021, provides free school holiday provision including healthy meals and enriching activities for children from low-income households. Evidence shows that free holiday clubs such as the HAF scheme can have a positive impact on children and young people, and provide consistent and easily accessible enrichment activities. We hired space at Workspace, ASAN (All Saints Action Network) for 5 dates (16th – 20th February 2026) and they also provided our catering and delivered a varied timetable of creative activities, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with plenty of plan B’s / and C’s for ‘fast finishers.’ RAW aimed to achieve the following outcomes, among others, for the young people we worked with in this scheme:
Some of the young people who attended had additional needs and health conditions, such as:
SELECTION OF IMAGESDay 1: Pop Art Fruit and Healthy Lifestyles  On Day One of our scheme we encouraged young people to paint #popart canvases - with a healthy eating theme (one of the core elements of the HAF Programme). We also delivered some education about #healthylifestyles - including positive mental health, to follow #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek which is driven by the Place2Be movement. Day 1: Deaf Awareness and BSL learning The young people learnt about #deafawareness with our Deaf director Gary - as part of our Feb Half Term HAF Activities, funded by City of Wolverhampton Council and Department for Education. Also some basic #BSL (British Sign Language) learning - including a young person, who has attended our sessions previously, being an ambassador for sign language and teaching the finger spelling alphabet. And, of course, our famous BSL Bingo - with a Healthy Eating theme. Day 2: Leonardo da Vinci and Recreating his Mona Lisa   A Black Country version of Leonardo's Last Supper by Max Vann (father of our director Alex) Day 2 of our Feb Half Term #HAF Activities was a focus on Leonardo da Vinci - a true #Renaissance artist, inventor and much more. We looked at a few of his works including The Last Supper (see a Black Country version of that here, painted by Alex's father Max!), the Vitruvian Man and of course, the Mona Lisa. Read more about the art of Max Vann here: https://www.alexvann.co.uk/the-art-of-max-vann.html The young people then created their own version of the Mona Lisa in square sections which were pieced together at the end of the session. We think she looks great, what do you think? The reveal video of the recreation has gone viral on Instagram (more about that in a later post). Watch the video here. Day 3: Georges Seurat and Pointillism  Some truly remarkable Pointillist marker drawings, in the style of Georges Seurat, by young people attending RAW's HAF session at All Saints Action Network Ltd Some Wolverhampton landmarks as you've never seen them before and other subjects all made with tiny dots and a load of patience! This is a really mindful and relaxing activity to do.  Day 4 : Hama Beads and Slate Coasters  On day 4 the young people used Hama fuse beads to create characters, creatures and objects and decorated their slate coasters with beautiful designs which were then varnished.
Day 5: Mental Health Activities On day 5 we focused on #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek and the young people participated in a range activities to help them think about their own self care and the steps they can take to safeguard their positive mental health.    This included making 'What Makes Me Happy' posters, watching a presentation by Jen which included some resources from Place2Be, learning #BSL signs related to the theme, and making their own 'zines (see the next post). We rounded off the day by singing - and signing - the classic Bob Marley song 'Three Little Birds'...."Don't worry, about a thing...." with Alex on the guitar. #GivingPeopleACreativeVoice #mentalhealth #HAFActivities #BobMarley Children's Mental Health - Resources and SignpostingSAMARITANS If you need urgent support but don't want to go to A&E you can call Samaritans. They're always open and there to listen. Freephone 116 123. CHILDLINE Childline is a free, private and confidential service for anyone under 19 with any issue you are going through. You can talk to them about anything, whatever your worry, whenever you need help, anytime day or night. www.childline.org.uk Phone: 0800 1111 YOUNG MINDS Young Minds is a mental health charity for children and young people. They give advice and information about mental health conditions and support for young people & parents and carers. www.youngminds.org.uk Text YM to 85258 KOOTH A free, anonymous, online counselling and emotional well-being service for young people aged 11-18 (up to 25 for care leavers/SEND). www.kooth.com BASE 25 Base 25 provides a safe, drop-in space for under 25s in Wolverhampton city centre for emotional support and counseling. 29-31 Temple St, Wolverhampton WV2 4AN 01902 572040 [email protected] QUOTES FROM LEARNERS SURVEY RESPONSES
THANK YOU! THE RAW TEAM!
Thanks to our Directors, staff, volunteers and sign language interpreters for making this scheme one of our most impactful projects ever! L-R: Jenaitre, Tammy, Gary, Alex, Jemma, Lisa, Courtney and Taran
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Fruity Fun on our Summer HAF in Wolverhampton! Thanks to Department for Education and City of Wolverhampton Council for funding our Summer HAF scheme in Wolverhampton #HAF2024. We loved working with the young people and seeing their amazing imaginations create new art in the world that didn’t exist before. Thank you also to our wonderful hosts All Saints Action Network Ltd. See some photos below of what the activities they took part in: Huge Cardboard Fruit SculpturesBritish Sign Language: Healthy LifestylesCD Weaving a la Kandinsky with BeckiCircle Marker art and ceramic tiles with SarahClay creations including Greek Style PotsElizabeth Catlett - biro poster in sections and clay printingFestival Day with JenAkira Toriyama - Kid Goku drawingsMatisse Style Paper Cut OutsPop Art Greetings CardsPlant Pot DesignsQigong movements with SueExpressive WatercoloursOne of the parents made us a cake!Survey Data Report: Week 1 Survey Data - Week 2 Quotes from the young people
High Quality Art Materials gifted to RAW Leigh 'Finlee Russell' Saunders was an extraordinarily talented Birmingham based artist, sculptor, musician and film maker. He was a good friend of Alex Vann, founder of RAW and the pair worked together on music and video projects and met through mutual friend, Birmingham singer song writer Rich McMahon, who passed away in 2015. Leigh created an army of plasticine characters called 'The Smiley Dudes' which spread a message of fun and positivity around the globe. Below is a video of him delivering a hundred Smiley Dudes to children at the Rare Disease Summer Party in 2017. Unfortunately Leigh lost his battle with cancer in March 2021. We were overwhelmed when heard from the family that they'd like to pass on his art materials so that we can use them with our groups and in that way keep his creative legacy alive. We'd like to publicly thank the family and will continue to post examples of work on our social media channels using his materials using the hash tag #FinleesLegacy Above are just a few examples of work Alex has created, either as examples on virtual art sessions with various groups including British Deaf Association, Deaf Plus, Mossley Community Arts Club, or face to face at Percy Shurmer Academy, Birmingham or commissioned work. The Pop Art painting of The Man On The Horse is on show at The Chindit pub in Wolverhampton until August 2021.
Doors 4 Thought at St Martin's C of E Gary from RAW with Maya and Milan For a week, beginning on Monday 1st October 2018 we worked with all the pupils at St Martin’s C of E School in Tipton to create large scale artwork with a difference. The aim of the ‘Doors For Thought’ project was to decorate 17 of the classroom doors with the key values of the school. Each year group had 2 doors to decorate, one for their own classroom and one for another internal door in the school. Each door has it’s own ‘theme’ based on 17 of the school values or ‘character strengths’ such as ‘respect’; ‘humility’ and ‘creativity’.  Gary with some of the finished door canvasses
We have been delighted that the children were so enthusiastic about this project. It is a unique way to represent the values of St Martin’s and engage learners with art activity.” Alex Vann, Founder of RAW
British Sign Language (BSL) was also integrated into the art sessions which were held in the main hall of the school. A member of RAW, Gary O’Dowd, is profoundly Deaf and uses BSL to communicate. BSL translations of the theme words are printed onto the doors both as signs and as fingerspelt words.
 Sample Classroom doors |
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