Creativity packs bursting with art materials are being given out to vulnerable families in Sharrow and Firth Park this week.
There are 100 creativity packs, created by two professional community artists from Ignite Imaginations. Each pack contains all the instructions and materials needed for six fun, imaginative activities, including clay modelling, painting and puppet making.
The arts charity has been able to create the high-quality packs thanks to funding from BBC Children in Need. The money was originally intended to fund free art clubs in libraries around the city and the charity is delighted to be able to adapt part of the funding for the current circumstances.
Vicki Rolley, Project Co-ordinator from Ignite Imaginations said, “Engaging with art and getting creative can increase mental wellbeing and reduce stress. For this reason, art is more important than ever in this time of lockdown. We hope these packs will bring those benefits to families with limited access to materials and online resources.”
Ignite is partnering with Sharrow Community Forum and Sheffield Family Voice in Sharrow, and Sheffield Libraries in Firth Park, to distribute the art packs to some of the most vulnerable and under-resourced families in the city.
Jonathan Roberts, Chief Executive at Sharrow Community Forum said, “Sharrow Community Forum is really excited to be working with Ignite Imaginations to deliver these activity packs to local children and families. It is, as ever, fantastic to link with Ignite to support activities that will offer children fun and creative activities during this lockdown. We look forward to extending this project to more families in the near future – watch this space!”
This is a pilot scheme and the charity hope to find further funding to extend the programme to other areas in the city and possibly to create similar resources for other vulnerable groups, including self-isolating older people.
Any community organisations interested in partnering with Ignite in the delivery of similar packs to vulnerable people or families during the lockdown can email enquiries@igniteimaginations.org.uk