INTRO
BIG-UP New Parks is a five-year programme of creative activities and projects, run by Soft Touch Arts and funded by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Programme.
Within the programme there are different strands of work designed to focus on some of the issues and needs identified by young people, adults and organisations on the estate.
The programme is mainly targeted at young people, but will also work with parents and other residents, and bring different age groups together. Soft Touch will be working in community buildings and on the streets, involving the people of New Parks in exciting creative projects and events.
The diagram below shows how the strands of work link together.
For more information about any aspect of BIG-UP New Parks contact the programme manager, Christina Wigmore, at Soft Touch. 0116 270 2706 chris@soft-touch.org.uk
STRANDS
Well Cool
This strand will run a health awareness projects and campaigns for young people and parents.
Groups of young people will focus on local health issues and produce information such as postcards, recipe books, and digital images which give positive health messages to New Parks residents.
The first project has started and is focusing on healthy eating. A group of young people are busy preparing a set of recipe cards to be distributed across the estate. A big thank you goes to The Co-operative for supporting this project with donated ingredients.
For more information contact Christina Wigmore at Soft Touch. 0116 270 2706 chris@soft-touch.org.uk
Positive Vibes
The Positive Vibes anti-bullying project for young people will promote positive friendships and tackle some of the issues around bullying inside and outside of schools on the estate.
We have started off by working with a group at New College who are working on an anti-bullying campaign for the school.
For more information contact Vince Attwood at Soft Touch. 0116 270 2706 vince@soft-touch.org.uk
The Positive Vibes referral session is for young people who find it challenging accessing mainstream youth services and activities. A range of creative activities is offered to respond to the interests and needs of the participants, eg music, stencilling, animation, modelling.
Young people can refer themselves to this session or can be referred by a family member or worker. The sessions take place on Thursdays at New Parks Library between 4 and 6:30pm.
For more information contact James Jackson at Soft Touch. 0116 270 2706 jim@soft-touch.org.uk
Creative Streets
The Creative Streets strand provides positive creative activities for children and young people on Friday and Saturday nights.
There is a regular drop-in creative youth club on Tuesday nights at New Parks Youth Centre between 6 and 8pm.
Contact James Jackson at Soft Touch for more information. 0116 270 2706 jim@soft-touch.org.uk
Watch out in early 2012 for where our Streetvan studio and Beatsmobile will be at on Saturday nights.
Capacity building
On the Make is a free course for anyone aged 19+ living in New Parks and not in work. If you would like to learn new craft techniques and how to pass these on to others then this course is for you. Participants will also be supported to take their first steps towards finding funding to run group craft activities in the community.
The course will run on Fridays at New Parks Library:
Taster and sign up session - 9:30 – 11:30am, 13 January, no need to book
Course sessions – 9:30am- 1:30pm, 20 & 27 Jan, 3, 10, 24 Feb, 6 March. There will be one further follow up session to be agreed with the group
Contact Helen Pearson at Soft Touch for more information. 0116 270 2706 helen@soft-touch.org.uk
Movers and Makers is an informal group for women of all ages who enjoy or would like to try craft activities. It meets on Thursdays between 1 and 3pm at New Parks Library.
Contact Jen Bickerton at Soft Touch for more information. 0116 270 2706 jen@soft-touch.org.uk
Creative Mentors
The Creative Mentors programme for NEET young people aged 16-25 will start in early 2011. The programme will give young people new skills and qualifications and the opportunity to take part in real creative community projects.
Contact Joe Crofton at Soft Touch for more information. 0116 270 2706 joe@soft-touch.org.uk
Connect
The Connect strand will bring young and old together through joint creative projects and street events: for example street parties, health and beauty events, swap shops, creative cook-ins.
Watch out for the date of the first event.
In addition there will be an annual celebration event in New Parks to pull together all the strands of the programme and showcase what has been achieved.
