Amazing Christmas and New Year HAF CreativityWe 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 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... Day 1 : Christmas Crafts and Healthy LifestylesWe 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:
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:
Day 2 : Tee Shirts and Cardboard afternoonThe 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...
Day 3 : wooden model making, optical illusions and snake drawingsThis 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...
Day 4: Chinese New Year and BSL / Deaf awareness and gamesThe 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 resultsWe 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
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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 1Survey Data - Week 2Quotes from the young people
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 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:
Captivating Creativity: Easter HAF Scheme 2024We 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. Drawings in a circle, with WayneEid/Ramadan/Vaisakhi / General greetings cardsClay Creations 'Iris' folded Easter Cards, led by SarahClaude Monet Painting Session: Bridge over Pond of WaterliliesPaper LanternsBSL learning and games with GaryMonitoring DataAs 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's what the young people told us:I love being here" EASTER HAF - for Young People in WolverhamptonWe 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:
A Grand Year! - 2023 ReviewDear colleague Happy New Year and welcome to the latest newsletter of RAW (Real Arts Workshops) looking back at our projects in 2023 with a range of people and groups of all ages and abilities. If you view the attached PDF version of the newsletter in a reader that supports links, you will be able to click relevant web links to find out more information about a particular story - and our own website has many resources and information too. We have a series of free to attend sessions coming up as part of the Pride & Privilege exhibition at New Art Gallery in Walsall, check out our website and social media for links to those. We're also currently delivering free sessions for Mossley Community Connections in Walsall, see their FB page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/MossleyCommunityConnections/ ![]()
Winter HAF scheme Jan 2024We were pleased to be able to offer a varied programme of creativity to young people in Wolverhampton in January 2024, thanks to HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) funding from Wolverhampton City Council and Department for Education. This holiday provision is for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals and as we were delivering after Christmas we decided to focus on Chinese New Year for some of the sessions. Gary, our Deaf role model, also taught some basic British Sign Language, including signs for food: healthy options like fruit and vegetable, and not so healthy options, as part of a balanced diet, as some education such as this is part of the HAF scheme. Children had the opportunity to decorate their own canvas pencil case Our visiting artist Jen delivered a life affirming session on goal setting and 2024 calendars, started with a presentation by Olivia who spoke about her early years, primary & secondary education, University, traveling and landing her dream job starting this month. Online Survey results:100% of attendees told us that they enjoyed taking part in our activity. 100% of attendees said that they learnt something new. 100% of attendees said they would like to attend RAW sessions again in future. 4.84 out of 5 star rating 🤗 Quotes from the Young people:“It was amazing because I met new people and doing activities was fun so thank you!” It was an extremely busy summer! Our latest news is out - read all about what we've been doing and also about what's coming up.
We're working on some exciting projects: keep an www.facebook.com/MossleyCommunityConnections/ : Mossley Community Connections Facebook for a project we are starting in Walsall soon, October Half term activities with young people (link for families to sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/231053932879362 and a lovely Arts Council funded project with Wolverhampton based Sri Lankan artist Kanjana Nicholas. Exciting times! We have been successful in securing funding from the Youth Engagement Strategy board in Wolverhampton to deliver a week of arts, crafts and BSL activities for all young people aged 8-16 (25 with an EHCP) living in Wolverhampton. The dates are: Monday 30th October to Friday 3rd November 10am - 2.30pm each day. See advert for details and you can book places for young people using the link below.
We're Stronger Together!We were grateful to City of Wolverhampton Council and Department for Education, for funding our 2 week Summer HAF(Holidays Activities and Food) activity. 8-16 year olds (25 with an EHCP) participated in a wide variety of art activities and we included some BSL (British Sign Language) teaching too. We also worked with our friends at Stratton Street Community Centre for 2 days of sessions. We made woodland creatures out of pine cones, deisgned ceramic tiles, totes bags and performed our original song ‘We Shine Together’ – in sign language! The children learnt all the signs to the song in one morning, and then performed in front of an audience – amazing. You can watch the video on YouTube (or scroll down to see it). Feedback from our sessions was very positive. We've included young people's feedback and results of online surveys for the 2 weeks below. Here is a snapshot of what they did in Week 1….Giant Newsprint MosaicsThis is an effective and accessible way to make art very quickly. Instead of using paint we use magazines and newspapers to gather a palette of colours. Normally these are A4 size but we decided it would make a great day 1 activity to encourage team building and getting the young people to meet new people. The 2 designs with hands are from original artworks by our Deaf director Gary O'Dowd. The other 2 images are synonymous with Wolverhampton: the Man On The Horse and the Wolf face. BSL (British Sign Language) and Ceramic tile artOur Deaf role model and company director taught the young people some basic sign language and then played some games including BSL bingo. The afternoon session was a ceramic tile design session. Superheroes and AffirmationsOur newest team member, the wonderful and vivacious Jen, led a fantastic session which encouraged the young people to channel their inner superhero! They made boxes in which they could place 'treasure' - reminders of why they are so fantastic on those days when they don't. Drawing day incl Still Life studiesThe young people did a range of drawings, using a variety of media to create superb artworks. In the afternoon they made still life drawings of fresh fruit and vegetables which they then took home. Bark board art inspired by British Art Show 9Michael Armitage, one of the British Art Show 9 exhibitors in Wolverhampton last year was the inspiration for this session. Our volunteer Wayne then led some drawings in a circle, with the assistance of one of the young people. Here's what they did in Week 2"Who do you think you are - Van Gogh?" Yes! We used acrylic paints mixed with cornflour to replicate Vincent's impasto style. We love how these are all unique, despite being the same subject. Clay print making and Negative drawingsThis was done in the same way as linocut printing but instead of using lino we used clay because it's a softer material and you don't need dangerous sharp tools. WE HAD A CARNIVAL!!The lovely Jen led another session for us - this time she taught the young people (and us staff!) about the history of carnival and the various cultures that celebrate carnivals around the world. Then they crated fabulous masks, fans and headpieces. See our Facebook page for a video of their conga dance! Qigong and dot drawingsSue, a registered Qigong tutor, led a fabulous session of this gentle Chinese martial art movement technique. Then The children made wonderful dot paintings inspired by African / Aboriginal indigenous art. CARDBOARD DAY!RAW started originally as a final year project by Alex Vann. He wrote a book called 'Joseph The useful Cardboard Box' all about the uses of a discarded cardboard box. So...we had a cardboard ox day, why? Because children absolutely LOVE cardboard!! Healthy Eating ActivitiesPart of the funding for HAF is about educating young people on healthy eating choices. We integrated this into our art activities, as well as the fresh fruit and veg still life drawings we did these.... RAW at Stratton Street Community Centre HAF 2023We love working with our colleagues at Stratton Street Community Centre. We delivered 2 days of arts and BSL experiences. See their creations below and watch the video of our own song: 'We Shine Together' which includes some lyrics written by Gail, the manager of the Community Centre. Views of the Young People'THOUGHT OF THE DAY' slipsSurvey Results - Week 1Survey Results - Week 2Quotes from the Young PeopleIt was very amazing |
AuthorReal Arts Workshops is an independent arts company based in the Black Country, providing bespoke workshops for various organisations and groups. Archives
January 2025
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