Children’s Reimagined Mona Lisa Goes Viral |
 The current view and like count (28.2.26) |  The final composited artwork |
When the finished artwork was revealed, staff filmed the children’s reaction—capturing their gasps, laughter and amazement as the separate squares came together to form the complete image.
The video was shared on RAW’s Instagram page and quickly went viral, gaining over half a million views and almost 40,000 likes in just a few days. Have a look for yourself here: Our Viral Mona Lisa Reel
The video was shared on RAW’s Instagram page and quickly went viral, gaining over half a million views and almost 40,000 likes in just a few days. Have a look for yourself here: Our Viral Mona Lisa Reel
 Two of the young artists involved, pointing out their squares |  The individual squares during assembly |
 Detail |  Drawing in progress |
One of RAW’s Directors, Alex Vann, said:
“This project shows the power of creativity when young people are trusted to explore, express and collaborate. Seeing their pride when the final piece was revealed was incredible. The online response has been overwhelming, and it’s wonderful to see their work being celebrated so widely.”
Beyond its viral success, the project highlights the role of creative learning in supporting confidence, wellbeing and connection, particularly during school holidays.
The Mona Lisa project was part of a wider programme delivered at The Workspace, All Saints Action Network, that included pop art canvases, pointillist drawings of Wolverhampton landmarks, British Sign Language and Deaf Awareness workshops, and Children’s Mental Health Week activities.
RAW is now inviting local galleries, community venues and public spaces to consider exhibiting the artwork.
The Mona Lisa project was part of a wider programme delivered at The Workspace, All Saints Action Network, that included pop art canvases, pointillist drawings of Wolverhampton landmarks, British Sign Language and Deaf Awareness workshops, and Children’s Mental Health Week activities.
RAW is now inviting local galleries, community venues and public spaces to consider exhibiting the artwork.
“This isn’t just a picture,” added Vann. “It’s a story of teamwork, imagination and young voices. We’d love to see it hanging somewhere the whole community can enjoy.”
And with growing public interest, one playful question remains: Does Mona need a home?
Notes to Editors
Real Arts Workshops (RAW) is an independent arts and British Sign Language (BSL) workshop provider based in Wolverhampton, delivering creative programmes for individuals, education, healthcare and communities settings for participants of all ages and abilities.
Website: www.realartsworkshops.co.uk
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.
For information about the HAF programme in Wolverhampton email: [email protected]
For media enquiries, interviews or exhibition opportunities, please contact: [email protected]
Real Arts Workshops (RAW) is an independent arts and British Sign Language (BSL) workshop provider based in Wolverhampton, delivering creative programmes for individuals, education, healthcare and communities settings for participants of all ages and abilities.
Website: www.realartsworkshops.co.uk
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.
For information about the HAF programme in Wolverhampton email: [email protected]
For media enquiries, interviews or exhibition opportunities, please contact: [email protected]
0 Comments
February Half Term HAF Art and BSL Activities
We are pleased to announce hat we have been funded by City of Wolverhampton Council and the DfE to provide a programme of February Half Term HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) Art & BSL (British Sign Language) activities.
These are FREE sessions for eligible* young people in Wolverhampton aged 7-16 (up to 25 with an EHCP).
All tuition, high quality resources and a hot/cold lunch are provided. *Eligible families will have received communication from CWC regarding this.
These sessions are delivered at:
The Workspace at All Saints Action Network (ASAN), All Saints Road, WV2 1EL
on 5 days: Monday 16th to Friday 20th February 2026 from 10am - 2.30pm each day.
BOOKINGS ARE NOW OPEN
Uses the button below to book /register interest:
All tuition, high quality resources and a hot/cold lunch are provided. *Eligible families will have received communication from CWC regarding this.
These sessions are delivered at:
The Workspace at All Saints Action Network (ASAN), All Saints Road, WV2 1EL
on 5 days: Monday 16th to Friday 20th February 2026 from 10am - 2.30pm each day.
BOOKINGS ARE NOW OPEN
Uses the button below to book /register interest:
Amazing Winter Creativity across 3 local authorities
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 were delighted to be awarded funding from 3 separate West Midlands local authorities to deliver meaningful sessions during the Christmas school holidays.
RAW aimed to achieve the following outcomes, among others, for the young people we worked with in this scheme:
We were delighted to be awarded funding from 3 separate West Midlands local authorities to deliver meaningful sessions during the Christmas school holidays.
RAW aimed to achieve the following outcomes, among others, for the young people we worked with in this scheme:
- reduce isolation,
- develop confidence,
- learn new things,
- have fun,
- improve mental health,
- eliminate boredom
- create new artworks that didn’t exist before
- improve self confidence
WOLVERHAMPTON WINTER HAF SCHEME
 | Our Wolverhampton HAF scheme ran for 4 days in total: 3 dates Mon 22nd - Wed 24th Dec 2025 at The Workspace, All Saints Action Network WV2 1EL and 1 date on 2nd January 2026 at Bob Jones Community Hub. We worked with 24 young people most days. Families booked on through the EEQU booking system, and HAF eligibility was a benefits related free school meal and we worked with 7-16 year olds, or an EHCP (Education Health Care Plan), and we worked with young people 7-25. |
Our team is compassionate, and patient and all the young people were able to create some artworks(s) and learn some BSL.
We commissioned an art therapist to lead a Vision Boards and Calendar making session where young people were able to visualise their aspirations for the coming year.
We invited parents to attend a British Sign Language tuition workshop at our final session at Bob Jones Community Hub. Some parents did attend and took part in the session and some of their feedback is shown below. We also held a ‘pop-up’ art gallery displaying some artwork made by young people in our previous HAF sessions over the past couple of years.
We commissioned an art therapist to lead a Vision Boards and Calendar making session where young people were able to visualise their aspirations for the coming year.
We invited parents to attend a British Sign Language tuition workshop at our final session at Bob Jones Community Hub. Some parents did attend and took part in the session and some of their feedback is shown below. We also held a ‘pop-up’ art gallery displaying some artwork made by young people in our previous HAF sessions over the past couple of years.
Selection of Photos - Wolverhampton
Feedback from learners and parents / carers - Wolverhampton
22.12.25
- Very fun my favourite was the Christmas cards. I recommend this activity.
- I felt good and I had fun.
- I liked it! I kind of think that we should do more of this stuff
- I like decorating the small pots and painting on the mini canvas.
- Very nice
- I liked the pots the most.
- I enjoyed the canvas painting and enjoyed all the other activities
- My favourite thing was designing tiny pots.
- I think it was nice and the bells were good
- I really had a jolly experience doing the canvas
- I like doing the mini pots and I would be better if they had stars. Everything else was good.
23.12.25
- I enjoyed all the activities today; it was really fun.
- I liked when we made a calendar of the year.
- It was very fun today.
- I really liked doing the activities and I would like to do more.
- Favourite so far! I loved the freedom we had to decorate it all.
- My favourite activity was the calendar.
- My day had fun and making the vision board.
- I enjoyed everything activities because they were really fun.
- I liked doing the vision board. I also like to do the calendar.
- I enjoyed doing my vision board and I like to do something like this again with stickers.
24.12.25
- Today I liked drawing the bird (robin)
- I loved the activity today. They were really fun.
- I had fun with sign language.
- I enjoyed learning different sign language and motions I also liked the BSL bingo.
- I liked doing the BSL and enjoyed sign language I also liked doing the drawing the bird.
- I liked drawing my robin bird and doing sign language. Next time I want to do more drawing.
- I enjoyed today.
- I enjoyed drawing robin bird and very nice.
- I like coming here, I liked doing my activity, I liked the food and I liked the staff and volunteers.
- It was fun and the thing that I love the most was doing sign language
- I enjoyed the BSL bingo and the bird drawing we did.
- I liked doing robin drawing, he looks fluffy but it was hard to draw.
- I liked drawing robin. It was really hard to do.
2.1.26
- We did a firework paper drawing using Posca pens and a horse drawing in the morning and BSL and I enjoyed today.
- The kids enjoy it. Really wonderful. So informing and educational. Food was ok. Thank you. (PARENT)
- I don’t like the food or the drawing, but I really enjoyed the BSL and the BSL games and Bingo.
- I really enjoyed coming and want to learn more.
- I enjoyed it so much, it doesn’t need changing.
- It needs to improve on more activities otherwise everything was very nice.
- I like learning new language and art.
- I felt amazing. I loved the food and the activities. Nothing bad happened.
- PARENT: I really enjoy your BSL session which is very informative. My children really enjoyed as my daughter really wants to learn BSL. Thank you.
- Best day ever so much fun
- I liked all the activities and the fireworks
- I loved to learn sign language.
DUDLEY WINTER HAF SCHEME
 | Our Dudley HAF scheme ran for 3 days : Mon 29th - Wed 31st Dec at Green Park Community Centre, Dudley DY2 7LG We worked with 15 young people most days. Families booked on through the Booking Lab system, and HAF eligibility was a benefits related free school meal and we worked with 7-16 year olds. |
We had use of the classroom at Green Park Community Centre, DY2 7LG.
At lunchtimes we were able to use the small playground and neighbouring football courts to allow the children to get some fresh air and exercise.
Some of the young people who attended had additional needs and health conditions , eg
At lunchtimes we were able to use the small playground and neighbouring football courts to allow the children to get some fresh air and exercise.
Some of the young people who attended had additional needs and health conditions , eg
- Autism
- Neuro Diverse
- ADHD
- Dyspraxia
- Genetic condition NF1
- Attachment/developmental trauma
- Behavioural linked to attachment/trauma ADHD
- Sensory-neural deafness - cochlear implants
Selection of Photos - Dudley
Recipe and food packs from Black Country Food Bank
We were able to distribute some amazing recipe and ingredients packs provided by Black Country Food Bank. They went down very well with families who had already made the chicken curry and spaghetti Bolognese!
Feedback from learners and parents/carers - Dudley
29.12.25
- Loved playing outside and art.
- Today was fun.
- The BSL was fun although I thought it would be boring. The Art/Acrylic Posca was something fun and new to learn and the fruit beginning was an interesting way to spark creativity.
- I liked the scratchy thing (scratch art card for fireworks)
- I felt really happy; my favourite thing was drawing the fireworks.
- I like when we learned own names (in BSL) and I love it.
- Today was the best I enjoyed making pictures with the fruit. I most enjoyed going and playing on the mini park and learning sign language.
- I love today. The teachers are helpful and funny. I like learning and listening with sign language.
- I enjoyed the firework piece in the art section and all of the BSL bit because I find sign language very interesting.
30.12.25
- I loved it.
- I loved everything today.
31.12.25PARENT A
- I enjoyed doing the clay and making the models. I also enjoyed recapping on my BSL.
- I liked the part where I designed the bag.
- I LOVED today. I loved making clay. I loved the food. I loved sign language and drawing.
- My favourite thing was the BSL, clay and design bag.
- I enjoyed the clay and the bag today.
- I like the food and making bag.
- I liked the food it filled me up and really nice. I liked doing the clay and I like making bags.
- I liked today because we made stuff out as clay and designed a bag and the lunch was lovely.
- I enjoyed designing my own bag. I also enjoyed the lunch.
- I enjoyed making my own bag and the lunch.
- I liked today because we made stuff out of clay.
- Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. I’ve really enjoyed myself and enjoyed doing different types of art. The food was great.
- Everyone is nice.
-
My 3 daughters, absolutely loved every second of the Dudley HAF sessions they attended. They all love learning BSL and find it fascinating. They love art and one is particularly passionate about art and is always either creating something from clay or drawing . They are already looking forward to Easter sessions!
Thank you for the dedication and hard work from all the team x
PARENT B
My daughter said the activities were great with lovely staff helping. She would prefer to be with children her own age suggesting there is a teenage group.
SANDWELL WINTER HAF SCHEME
 | Our Sandwell Winter HAF scheme ran for 3 days : Mon 29th - Wed 31st Dec in the upstairs room at the beautiful Carnegie Wednesbury Library, Walsall Street Wednesbury WS10 9EH We worked with 15 young people most days. Families booked on through the e-Vouchers system, and HAF eligibility was a benefits related free school meal and we worked with 7-16 year olds, and EHCP upto age 19 (we worked with children aged 7 and up). |
We had use of the upstairs room at Wednesbury Library and were well looked after by the staff there. An access lift was available for those that needed it.
At lunchtimes we were able to use the small memorial garden opposite the library to allow the children to get some fresh air and exercise.
Some of the young people had additional needs , eg
At lunchtimes we were able to use the small memorial garden opposite the library to allow the children to get some fresh air and exercise.
Some of the young people had additional needs , eg
- Autism
- ADHD
- Neurological disorder affecting mobilty and cognition
- Speech and language difficulties
Selection of Photos - Sandwell
Feedback from learners and parents/carers - Sandwell
29.12.25
- I loved it and got to learn things
- I learnt more about sign language and foods in BSL
- I felt good about this activity it was more interesting than I expected and extremely fun. I would probably come back here again.
30.12.25
- I made things with clay
- I really enjoyed the clay making as it allowed me to express my artism
- Very, very, very, very, very good!
- I found the clay art fun and would like to do that again
- I enjoyed clay sculpting and designing a picture
- It was very nice and good
- AMAZING!
- Super fun but maybe let people use coloured clay
- I enjoyed that we had lots of fun things, and I think I want to do it again
- I liked when we made bags
31.12.25
- I enjoyed it very much!
- I did graffiti!
- I liked the chicken burger and Jenga!
- I like when we did the (watercolour) picture it was so fun, I loved it
- I enjoyed graffiti and the staff/hosts are very kind
THANK YOU!
We are enormously grateful to the Department for Education for funding our (and many others across the region) Winter HAF scheme 2025-6.
We can see the real benefit these type of activities have for families particularly in the school holidays.
Thanks also to the local councils for choosing our scheme to be funded, we know there are numerous programmes and applications and it would be impossible to fund them all.
Thanks to all our venues for their commitment and support and caterers: ASANdwich in Wolverhampton, Jenny's Kitchen in Dudley and 2MUCH Passion CIC in Sandwell. The young people LOVE the food you have provided with so much love.
Thanks to all staff, volunteers, freelancers, interpreters and our own families who allow us the time to prepare, research, test, develop, plan, budget and all the other things that go on behind the scenes.
We can see the real benefit these type of activities have for families particularly in the school holidays.
Thanks also to the local councils for choosing our scheme to be funded, we know there are numerous programmes and applications and it would be impossible to fund them all.
Thanks to all our venues for their commitment and support and caterers: ASANdwich in Wolverhampton, Jenny's Kitchen in Dudley and 2MUCH Passion CIC in Sandwell. The young people LOVE the food you have provided with so much love.
Thanks to all staff, volunteers, freelancers, interpreters and our own families who allow us the time to prepare, research, test, develop, plan, budget and all the other things that go on behind the scenes.
 |  |  |
A Journey Through Art, Heritage, and Inclusion
At RAW we're passionate about the power of art to connect communities, exploring heritage, and promoting inclusion. Our recent collaboration with The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s Arts and Heritage Group on the Care, Create, Conserve project perfectly embodies this ethos.
Care, Create, Conserve was an 18-month long programme of arts and heritage activity, beginning in the 75th year of the NHS. Central to this project was the launch of a brand new Healthcare Heritage Centre, which exhibited a fascinating collection of medical artefacts, photographs, and memorabilia and acted as a community co-creation hub, hosting a vibrant programme of talks, events, and workshops.
Care, Create, Conserve was an 18-month long programme of arts and heritage activity, beginning in the 75th year of the NHS. Central to this project was the launch of a brand new Healthcare Heritage Centre, which exhibited a fascinating collection of medical artefacts, photographs, and memorabilia and acted as a community co-creation hub, hosting a vibrant programme of talks, events, and workshops.
Funded by a grant of £139,792 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded in October 2023, this project, which we began working on in February 2024, involved a range of creative commissions across Wolverhampton.
The project aimed to consider issues of identity, disability, and language within a healthcare context. We were thrilled to team up and be commissioned by the Trust to deliver workshops through the project which saw school pupils and recovering patients taking part in enriching experiences within the workshops.
The project aimed to consider issues of identity, disability, and language within a healthcare context. We were thrilled to team up and be commissioned by the Trust to deliver workshops through the project which saw school pupils and recovering patients taking part in enriching experiences within the workshops.
Who We Worked With
|
What We Created
The workshops resulted in some truly thought-provoking and inspiring artworks:
Penn Fields School
Pupils collaborated to create a stunning 2D collage of The Royal Hospital building in All Saints, using torn-up newspapers and photographs about the hospital's history.
The collaged sky includes clouds made from printed comments of what the NHS means to the young participants.
They also constructed a detailed 3D model of the hospital from recycled cardboard, complete with a lift-off roof revealing miniature hospital scenes.
Penn Fields School
Pupils collaborated to create a stunning 2D collage of The Royal Hospital building in All Saints, using torn-up newspapers and photographs about the hospital's history.
The collaged sky includes clouds made from printed comments of what the NHS means to the young participants.
They also constructed a detailed 3D model of the hospital from recycled cardboard, complete with a lift-off roof revealing miniature hospital scenes.
 |  |
At the NRU, West Park Hospital
The Neuro Rehabilitation Unit at West Park Hospital looks after people with acute neurological conditions for example brain injury, Parkinson's and survivors of strokes. We worked with a small group of adults on a short series of creative sessions.
Participants produced several artworks inspired by the Weeping Chapel, an octagonal Victorian building on the hospital site. These included beautiful dot paintings, delicate watercolour paintings, and intricate 3D cardboard models of the chapel.
The Neuro Rehabilitation Unit at West Park Hospital looks after people with acute neurological conditions for example brain injury, Parkinson's and survivors of strokes. We worked with a small group of adults on a short series of creative sessions.
Participants produced several artworks inspired by the Weeping Chapel, an octagonal Victorian building on the hospital site. These included beautiful dot paintings, delicate watercolour paintings, and intricate 3D cardboard models of the chapel.
Warstones Primary School's Deaf Resource Base
The children collectively recreated Gary’s powerful painting "Two Worlds," which depicts Deaf and Hearing worlds working together in harmony. Each child was given a square section of the artwork, pre-printed with audiogram charts relating to patients' hearing checks.
The children collectively recreated Gary’s powerful painting "Two Worlds," which depicts Deaf and Hearing worlds working together in harmony. Each child was given a square section of the artwork, pre-printed with audiogram charts relating to patients' hearing checks.
 |  |
RAW's Gary O'Dowd, who is profoundly Deaf, said:
“It was great to have the opportunity of working with the young people at the Deaf Resource Base at Warstones School. We were able to borrow some archive hearing equipment from the Wolverhampton Sensory Team which the pupils had a great time learning about and interacting with.
I spoke with the children about how technology has advanced since I was a pupil myself at a school for deaf children in the North East in the 1980s.
In recent times there have been huge advances in digital hardware for deaf people and smart phone technology now features deaf inclusive apps such as instant messaging, SMS texting, video calls and more specifically platforms such as Sign Video, Zoom, Facetime and BSL 999.
Unfortunately, there are still many inequalities for Deaf and disabled people although BSL has eventually been officially recognised, it’s still not accessible everywhere or on the school curriculum. Projects like this are useful to raise awareness of such issues - framed in a creative, fun and interactive way.”
“It was great to have the opportunity of working with the young people at the Deaf Resource Base at Warstones School. We were able to borrow some archive hearing equipment from the Wolverhampton Sensory Team which the pupils had a great time learning about and interacting with.
I spoke with the children about how technology has advanced since I was a pupil myself at a school for deaf children in the North East in the 1980s.
In recent times there have been huge advances in digital hardware for deaf people and smart phone technology now features deaf inclusive apps such as instant messaging, SMS texting, video calls and more specifically platforms such as Sign Video, Zoom, Facetime and BSL 999.
Unfortunately, there are still many inequalities for Deaf and disabled people although BSL has eventually been officially recognised, it’s still not accessible everywhere or on the school curriculum. Projects like this are useful to raise awareness of such issues - framed in a creative, fun and interactive way.”
Elinor Cole, former Arts and Heritage Co-ordinator at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said:
“We have seen some thought-provoking work produced by participants in these workshops – work that really allowed them to immerse themselves in the project. And the resultant artworks will help us to raise further awareness of our Heritage Centre and spark greater interest across our communities, as well as prompt reflection.”
“We have seen some thought-provoking work produced by participants in these workshops – work that really allowed them to immerse themselves in the project. And the resultant artworks will help us to raise further awareness of our Heritage Centre and spark greater interest across our communities, as well as prompt reflection.”
Alex Vann from RAW added:
“We found this such a rich and rewarding experience, and it was fascinating to see the artworks develop along the way. But it’s important to appreciate the wider benefits of these projects as we saw people of all ages developing new skills and gaining a real sense of satisfaction. They also benefitted from positive, social interaction with others and enjoyed working as a team. Projects like this help to break down barriers and challenge perceptions and remind us all that by looking back at the past we learn how to do things better in the future.”
“We found this such a rich and rewarding experience, and it was fascinating to see the artworks develop along the way. But it’s important to appreciate the wider benefits of these projects as we saw people of all ages developing new skills and gaining a real sense of satisfaction. They also benefitted from positive, social interaction with others and enjoyed working as a team. Projects like this help to break down barriers and challenge perceptions and remind us all that by looking back at the past we learn how to do things better in the future.”
This project has demonstrated the power of art to explore our shared heritage, build bridges between communities, and promote understanding and inclusion. We at RAW are incredibly proud to have been a part of it and you can watch our end of project video below.
Customer survey results
The Care, Create, Conserve exhibition can now be found at Wolverhampton City Archives, Molineux Hotel Building, Whitmore Hill, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SF.
Useful links
https://www.rwtnhscharity.co.uk/arts-heritage/care-create-conserve/
https://www.rwtnhscharity.co.uk/news/rich-and-rewarding-workshops-bring-many-benefits/
#NHS #CareCreateConserve #GivingPeopleACreativeVoice #Healthcare #Wolverhampton #RoyalHospitalTrust #WestParkHospital #PennFieldsSchool #WarstonesSchool #DeafAwareness #BSL
Useful links
https://www.rwtnhscharity.co.uk/arts-heritage/care-create-conserve/
https://www.rwtnhscharity.co.uk/news/rich-and-rewarding-workshops-bring-many-benefits/
#NHS #CareCreateConserve #GivingPeopleACreativeVoice #Healthcare #Wolverhampton #RoyalHospitalTrust #WestParkHospital #PennFieldsSchool #WarstonesSchool #DeafAwareness #BSL
A Springtime Burst of Creativity and Connection!
What a truly fantastic Easter HAF (Holidays Activities and Food) scheme we've had this year! We were really pleased to be funded by the Department for Education and Wolverhampton City Council once again to provide this range of enriching art, craft, and BSL experiences.
The HAF scheme is invaluable, providing funded places for eligible families of children and young people aged 7-16 (25 with EHCP) and recognising the profound impact holiday clubs have on them. These schemes are designed to help young people stay active, eat healthily, take part in enriching and engaging activities, and reduce social isolation.
We are incredibly proud to design our activities based on previous feedback from young people, ensuring they are relevant, exciting and inclusive. Building on the success of previous years, our workshops once again offered a vibrant mix of activities, foster a strong sense of creativity, community and support for every participant.
The HAF scheme is invaluable, providing funded places for eligible families of children and young people aged 7-16 (25 with EHCP) and recognising the profound impact holiday clubs have on them. These schemes are designed to help young people stay active, eat healthily, take part in enriching and engaging activities, and reduce social isolation.
We are incredibly proud to design our activities based on previous feedback from young people, ensuring they are relevant, exciting and inclusive. Building on the success of previous years, our workshops once again offered a vibrant mix of activities, foster a strong sense of creativity, community and support for every participant.
Day 1: Art, Healthy Living & BSL Basics
Our Easter HAF kicked off with a creative explosion! Young people dived into Minecraft drawings (including a fab 'Steve'!) and even a brilliant Jack Black portrait.
We then explored the weird and wonderful art of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, inspiring participants to create their own unique characters from fresh fruit – which they happily ate afterwards!
 |  |
Our wonderful Deaf role model, Gary, taught the children some valuable British Sign Language (BSL) vocabulary linked to healthy food, followed by an insightful presentation on living healthily by Alex. It was truly educational creative fun with a purpose!
Day 2: Clay, Charcoal & Creative Exploration
Day 2 brought more hands-on artistry! Clay modelling proved incredibly popular, and we loved seeing the fantastic creations take shape. Many young artists also experienced charcoal drawing for the first time, producing captivating pieces.
Day 3: Escher's Magic & Classic Designs
Mid-week, we challenged imaginations by delving into the ingenious works of M.C. Escher. Participants were inspired to create their own impressive tessellation art.
Later, we journeyed back in time to the 1800s, exploring the famous Blue Willow Pattern plate design. Young people then created their own stunning Willow Pattern designs on plates – with a few cheeky Jack Black features making an appearance!
Day 4: Music, BSL & Performance!
Our final day was a crescendo of music and sign language! Gary taught the children more British Sign Language (BSL), leading up to them learning how to sign our original song, "We Shine Together."
The creativity continued as they made their own instruments – Guiros, Tin Can Drums, Tambourines, and Maracas! The day culminated in two wonderful performances of the song: one with their handmade instruments and another entirely in sign language. What a powerful display of communication and teamwork!
The smiles, laughter, and incredible creations speak for themselves that took place over our Easter week. We're really proud of the energy and talent shown by everyone who joined us.
A huge thank you to All Saints Action Network Ltd for graciously hosting our activities.
Most importantly, our heartfelt thanks go to all our brilliant staff and dedicated volunteers, whose passion and hard work truly made this Easter HAF scheme unforgettable. You are the heart of REAL ARTS WORKSHOPS!
We're already buzzing with ideas for our summer HAF activities and can't wait to see you there for more creative adventures!
A huge thank you to All Saints Action Network Ltd for graciously hosting our activities.
Most importantly, our heartfelt thanks go to all our brilliant staff and dedicated volunteers, whose passion and hard work truly made this Easter HAF scheme unforgettable. You are the heart of REAL ARTS WORKSHOPS!
We're already buzzing with ideas for our summer HAF activities and can't wait to see you there for more creative adventures!
Participant Feedback from Easter HAF 2025
We were thrilled to hear what the young people had to say about their experience:
I enjoyed everything and I had a lot of fun drawing Minecraft Steve. If I had to rate it, I would rate it 5 stars!"
" I think it was a great experience to be here. I loved that we did art and drawing colouring."
" I liked art and your staff are very helpful and thank you."
I learned about the blue Willow Pattern plate and it was great learning about something new.
"I enjoyed everything today."
"I enjoyed all the activities equally since it was equally enjoyable"
"I loved everything and I love coming here."
"I enjoyed the Escher art as it was very fun and unique."
Survey Data
 |  |
#EasterHAF
#Wolverhampton
#YouthActivities
#CreativeFun
#BSL #Inclusion
#ArtWorkshops
#HAF2025
#RealArtsWorkshops
#Wolverhampton
#YouthActivities
#CreativeFun
#BSL #Inclusion
#ArtWorkshops
#HAF2025
#RealArtsWorkshops
Amazing Christmas and New Year HAF Creativity
We were really pleased to be funded by Department for Education and Wolverhampton City Council to provide a range of enriching art, craft and BSL experiences for young people aged 7-16 (25 with EHCP). The HAF scheme provides funded places for eligible families, and recognises the impact holiday clubs have on children and young people. These schemes help young people stay active, eat healthily, take part in enriching and engaging activities and reduce social isolation.
We design our activities based on previous feedback from young people and foster a sense of community, inclusion and support. Our sessions are generally staffed by a sign language interpreter making them accessible to BSL users.
We design our activities based on previous feedback from young people and foster a sense of community, inclusion and support. Our sessions are generally staffed by a sign language interpreter making them accessible to BSL users.
Chinese lanterns created by the young people adorn the foliage in the atrium at All Saints Action Network
We ran our sessions on 4 days, on 23rd December 2024 and then again on 2nd, 3rd and 4th of January 2025. We were hosted by All Saints Action Network, and would like to thank all our staff and volunteers for making this another memorable scheme.
Here's a little snapshot of what the young people got up to on our scheme...
Here's a little snapshot of what the young people got up to on our scheme...
Day 1 : Christmas Crafts and Healthy Lifestyles
We took the opportunity to do some Christmas Crafts as there were still 2 days left until the big day! This included pinecone trees, tea-light snowmen, decorated cardboard baubles and wood slices and drawings. Here's what the young people told us in feedback about the activity:
- I like making the baubles because it was fun.
- I felt happy and excited. I really enjoyed with RAW. I liked the Christmas activity.
- I found today activities really fun.
- I felt happy, enjoyed and safe. I enjoyed the most the arts and crafts.
It is a requirement of our funding that we deliver some information about healthy lifestyle choices, including about diet, and so we thought it would be fun to encourage the children to make their own Christmas characters using fresh fruits - which they could then eat.
Here's what they told us about this activity:
Here's what they told us about this activity:
- I liked doing the fruit activity and I felt happy with RAW staff
- I enjoyed doing the Christmas activities and the food activities as you got to taste and design fruits.
- This is the best day!
Day 2 : Tee Shirts and Cardboard afternoon
The children had a morning of creating their own tee-shirts. As you can see there were all sorts of different designs.
This was followed by an afternoon learning about RAW's founder, artist Alex Vann's journey from a final year university project to Real Arts Workshops, via the Wolves in Wolves public art project, painting the mayor of Wolverhampton and publishing his book 'Joseph The Useful Cardboard Box' which led onto some cardboard crafts including about healthy eating etc. The message being that from a seemingly small idea can come a whole business idea! Here are a few pics...
Here's what the young people said about this day...
- It was a great activity, and I loved making the T-Shirt.
- The staff are the best and I loved making my T-Shirt.
- The activities were exquisite today.
- I enjoyed doing cardboard stuff today.
- I feel really happy doing everything. I enjoyed making T-shirt and cardboard. The staff are kind.
- I liked the mermaid cardboard decorating and the T-shirt that we own design.
Day 3 : wooden model making, optical illusions and snake drawings
This was a busy day of creativity! Starting with assembling wooden models of animals, insects and dinosaurs - a good test of following instructions, patience and fine motor skill work!
This was followed by our volunteer Wayne leading some mind-bending optical illusion type drawings on gridded paper.
As 2025 is Chinese year of the snake, some young people tried out their sketching skills on a drawing of a King Cobra - aren't they amazing?
Here's what the young people told us about this day...
- I liked the snake drawing. I like doing the illusion drawing.
- I like building my own butterfly.
- It was very fun and exciting.
- I liked doing the optical illusion and liked snake drawing.
- I enjoyed making the wooden crafts because it was fun.
- I really like today, it was really fun. I really enjoyed everything today. I really enjoyed 3D shapes today. Was the best day for me.
Day 4: Chinese New Year and BSL / Deaf awareness and games
The young people took part in a wide range of Chinese New Year activities, icluding making lanterns (using baubles), snake origami, painting Chinese characters on a 'magic' disappearing paint mat and making good luck Spring Couplets.
Then our very own Deaf role model, Gary, explained about his own journey as a Deaf person growing up in a hearing environment, including, meeting ambassador for the Deaf community and level 2 signer, Princess Diana; campaigning for BSL recognition by the Government and being a TV presenter (even appearing in hit TV show Byker Grove). Followed by BSL game of bingo, which included vocabulary about physical activities.
Lunch time runarounds!
We are lucky to work at a venue with its own football pitches and our young people love to get some fresh air and exercise at lunch times.
Survey results
We always ask for online feedback on the last day of the scheme. This is anonymous and gives us an insight into what the young people enjoyed most, how they rate our staff and our activity and helps us build and plan for future activities.
As you can see, we get an almost 5 star rating, which we are very pleased with.
100% of participants said they enjoyed taking part ans 90% told us that they learnt something new.
90% told us that they felt more creative/ inspired after attending our scheme.
End of scheme feedback (including volunteers and parents):
Thank you all for your kindness and support
Amazing work all through the week. Hopefully the HAF doesn’t finish as these kids need a place to go and in some cases some food too
Real Arts Workshops are great as usual privilege to volunteer for them
Amazing!!😀
It is very nice when we get to go out to football also 👍
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:
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 Sculptures
British Sign Language: Healthy Lifestyles
CD Weaving a la Kandinsky with Becki
Circle Marker art and ceramic tiles with Sarah
Clay creations including Greek Style Pots
Elizabeth Catlett - biro poster in sections and clay printing
Festival Day with Jen
Akira Toriyama - Kid Goku drawings
Matisse Style Paper Cut Outs
Pop Art Greetings Cards
Plant Pot Designs
Qigong movements with Sue
Expressive Watercolours
One of the parents made us a cake!
Survey Data Report: Week 1
Survey Data - Week 2
Quotes from the young people
- I loved it. It was great and I like it and I would come again.
- My favourite bit was when we painted an apple and it was very fun.
- I liked sign language because we could learn how to do it and how is communicate with Deaf people.
- The drawing I did was epic! At first I thought It was bad, then it come out good.
- I loved today and it was the best.
- My favourite part was when we done pop art.
- It was very fun.
- I want to do clay everyday.
- I enjoyed the clay printing as we learnt a new technique and I enjoyed the drawing as the results were good.
- Today, very fun, I really liked when we did the Biro artwork.
- I liked to do Qigong.
GREAT NEWS!
We are pleased to have been funded by City of Wolverhampton Council and the Department for Education to provide Summer HAF (Holiday Activities and Food Programme) Specialist Arts, Craft & BSL (British Sign Language) Activities.
These are FREE sessions for eligible* young people in Wolverhampton aged 7-16 (25 with an EHCP).
We are pleased to have been funded by City of Wolverhampton Council and the Department for Education to provide Summer HAF (Holiday Activities and Food Programme) Specialist Arts, Craft & BSL (British Sign Language) Activities.
These are FREE sessions for eligible* young people in Wolverhampton aged 7-16 (25 with an EHCP).
We are holding our sessions at The Workspace at All Saints Action Network (ASAN), All Saints Road, WV2 1EL between 10am prompt and 2.30pm on 10 days:
- Monday 25th July – Friday 2nd August &
- Monday 5th – Friday 9th August 2024
Captivating Creativity: Easter HAF Scheme 2024
We loved working with the young people who attended our Wolverhampton Easter HAF Scheme 2024.
These and many other schemes are funded with thanks to Wolverhampton City Council and Department for Education and are offered under the council’s ‘Yo Wolves’ scheme. This holiday provision is for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals.
As usual we were blown away by the amazing creations the children made. Here is a snapshot of just a few examples of their work.
These and many other schemes are funded with thanks to Wolverhampton City Council and Department for Education and are offered under the council’s ‘Yo Wolves’ scheme. This holiday provision is for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals.
As usual we were blown away by the amazing creations the children made. Here is a snapshot of just a few examples of their work.
Drawings in a circle, with Wayne
Eid/Ramadan/Vaisakhi / General greetings cards
Clay Creations
'Iris' folded Easter Cards, led by Sarah
Claude Monet Painting Session: Bridge over Pond of Waterlilies
Paper Lanterns
BSL learning and games with Gary
Monitoring Data
As we always do, we surveyed the young people at the end of our scheme and we are delighted with the results. 100% said they enjoyed taking part, 100% said that they learnt something new, 100% felt more creative and inspired. We got a 4.88 star rating and 100% of young people said they'd like to come to our sessions in future.
Here is a link to the full report.
Here is a link to the full report.
Here's what the young people told us:
I love being here"
"You guys keep improving each time"
I enjoyed the Ramadan cards because it was fun and colourful. Indigo
"I have enjoyed myself"
Very chill and relaxing making cards. Nikhil
I enjoyed the circle pictures. I was very proud of what I created. I had a lots of fun. Leah
It was very fun and exciting and we were drawing pictures and we also went outside to play football.Junior
I enjoyed the painting, and it was easier watching Alex doing it on the board. Indigo
"I really like RAW"
"I would love to do any other activities that you guys have in mind!It would not matter to me as I always enjoy activities with RAW"
"Liked clay as it was challenging to get tiny details." Nikhil
"I loved doing clay work with Gary. It was really creative in the afternoon we did Easter cards with Sarah. It was really mesmerising and fun to do". Ashli
"I liked learning about Monet." Mara
"I only came for one day but I enjoyed it."
"We painted a painting by Claude Monet. The painting have a bridge and bushes, flowers and reflection of the sky. We had so much fun." Ashli
"It was very interesting because we did painting in the style of Claude Monet". Junior
EASTER HAF - for Young People in Wolverhampton
We are pleased to have been funded by Wolverhampton City Council and DfE to provide Easter HAF* Specialist Arts,Craft & BSL Activities (*Holiday Activities and Food Programme).
These are FREE sessions for eligible* young people in Wolverhampton aged 8-16 (25 with an EHCP).
We are holding our sessions at The Workspace at All Saints Action Network (ASAN), All Saints Road, WV2 1EL between 10am prompt and 2.30pm on 4 days:
These are FREE sessions for eligible* young people in Wolverhampton aged 8-16 (25 with an EHCP).
We are holding our sessions at The Workspace at All Saints Action Network (ASAN), All Saints Road, WV2 1EL between 10am prompt and 2.30pm on 4 days:
- Monday 25th – Thursday 28th March 2024
Author
Real Arts Workshops is an independent arts company based in the Black Country, providing bespoke workshops for various organisations and groups.
Archives
May 2026
April 2026
February 2026
January 2026
October 2025
September 2025
July 2025
June 2025
April 2025
March 2025
January 2025
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
June 2024
April 2024
March 2024
January 2024
November 2023
October 2023
August 2023
June 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
December 2022
November 2022
September 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
March 2021
February 2021
December 2020
November 2020
September 2020
July 2020
May 2020
January 2020
December 2019
September 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
August 2018
July 2018
RSS Feed
