To keep local kids busy and engaged over the half term holiday we ran a series of creative workshops - with proceeds going to support out work!
Our Integration Team Co-ordinator Anjali's idea for a week of workshops at Westgate House over half-term proved a huge success. An incredible team of volunteers delivered a fun and diverse range of workshops on bracelet-making, Bollywood dance, reading and art to a range of children and their families. These activities were all raising funds to contribute to our Big Give Christmas Challenge, but to maximize our fundraising Anjali organised a hamper raffle, plant stall and the sale of some super cute christmas outfits and accessories for toddlers. As a result this week Anjali and the team raised over £200!
Half Term Activities
We kicked off the week with a bracelet making workshop run by our brilliant Finance Manager Ritu. Children (and their families!) learned how to weave their very own beautiful wool bracelets. We had a lovely time learning a new creative skill, and from the kids it was smiles all round - Thank you Ritu for sharing your creativity with us all!
Tuesday saw us getting up and active active with a lively Bollywood dance workshop run by one of our students Bhushan!
Bhushan is a well known Bollywood dancer and has appeared in a range of TV and film. He and his wife run Dance Folks with weekly Bollywood classes at Goals in Ipswich on Saturday mornings. Our Integration Team Coordinator Anjali attends these classes and regularly performs with their dance group at local events including Global Rhythms Festival!
We're incredibly grateful to Bhushan for running the workshop, everyone had a brilliant time - Thanks to all those who joined us.
If you want to learn more about Dance Folks you can find them on Instagram and on their YouTube Channel - Check them out!
Wednesday saw Let's Talk Reading engaging kids with two interactive story sessions. The team were brilliant, with loads of activities to get to kids involved in the storytelling and spark their imaginations! Our team member Monika even got involved, reading to the children in Polish while Claire of Let's Talk Reading read along in English.
Plus we want to give a huge thank you to Let's Talk Reading for very kindly gifting books to everyone who attended this sessions.
Let's Talk Reading is a brilliant initiative working to improve literacy in Ipswich. As part of this they distribute dual language books for children so that they can read with their families in their home language and English. So far they have delivered more than 400 dual language books in over 60 different languages for young children (0-6 years old) to nurseries, playgroups and community groups in Ipswich!
Find out more about them at letstalkreading.org.uk
To wrap up the week, brilliant local artist and ICM volunteer and Community Champion, Romeo held a creative art workshop. Children and their families (as well as some ICM staff!) learned how to use charcoal to create some wonderful works of art. We had a lovely time learning a new creative skill, and from the kids it was smiles all round!
As well as being an artist, Romeo is absolutely dedicated to Ipswich and its Romanian community. He founded Ipswich Romanian Community as a place to celebrate the beauty of Romanian culture and foster connections locally.
Thank you Romeo for sharing your talents with us, and for all you do for Ipswich!
Raffle Winner!
In addition to this series of workshops, we also ran a fundraising raffle for a hamper full of goodies. Congratulations to our brilliant volunteer and Community Champion, Daniela.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the week, and helped us raise over £200! This will make a huge difference to ICM, enabling us to continue to empower the local community through music, media, and learning.
Join us for the Big Give
We have loads more fundraising activities coming up as part of our Big Give Christmas Appeal which will be running from the 3rd - 10th December. We've got everything from a Christmas Fayre to a Live Battle of the Bands Gig so don't miss out! Plus there's loads of ways you can get involved yourself, just check out our Fundraising Pack.
Find out more about fundraising with us and our other upcoming fundraiser events by visiting our Big Give Christmas Appeal page!
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