Grants help Captain Ketchup, Mrs Tagliatelle and others make childhood better

Posted 24 November 2011, 2 comments

By Claudia Moynihan, Good Childhood Conversation Co-ordinator From our Church team

Claudia Moynihan reports on one of our first projects to receive a grant for a local community project, and that more funds are available.

The Children’s Society recently received a colourful thank-you letter from Wadebridge Churches Together concerning our funding of a holiday club in their town.

The letter was one of the first reports we've received on our new effort of providing grants for local community projects across the UK, a scheme we’ve developed with Ecclesiastical.

So far the results have been positive and a great compliment to our Good Childhood Conversations.

How Wadebridge Churches Together secured a grant – and how your organisation can apply

Back in February, we held a Good Childhood Conversation event in Wadebridge. More than 20 participants from a variety of church and community organisations attended, and they developed an idea for a holiday club.

Creating such a club arose from the town's need for facilities for children during half term, a situation that especially put pressure on working parents.

In response, a group of churches, Wadebridge Churches Together, applied for and received a £1000 grant that they had learned about through our Good Childhood Conversations. (Learn how you can apply for a grant for a local community projects.)

The group also secured grants from other local organisations, and Rocky’s Plaice Holiday Club took place last month during half-term.

Mrs Tagliatelle, Spic and Span, Captain Ketchup and the Sardine band

Led by a team of 25 volunteers of a wide range of ages from local churches, Rocky’s Plaice Holiday Club was a great success. The children had a wonderful time and many brought friends along.

Young people met Mrs Tagliatelle, the head chef at Rocky’s Plaice, and fell about laughing at the slapstick antics of Salt and Vinegar, the two exceedingly messy trainee chefs.

In addition, cleaners Spic and Span led the children in a funky workout, Captain Ketchup read the news and the Sardine band played engaging tunes. The children heard exciting stories from the early life of the church and created pop-up puppets, placemats and bookmarks.

The holiday club concluded with a celebration party with games and cake. Photographs from the holiday club are below.

Good Childhood Conversations

Good Childhood Conversations are local, community events that bring people together to discuss the issues and pressures facing children and young people today.

At events, adults are given the opportunity to explore their views of the children living in their own communities. Fresh thinking and actions, both big and small, are encouraged. The goal of the conversations is to improve public attitudes towards children and young people and make childhood better in local communities.

Find out more about hosting a Good Childhood Conversation, or email us with any questions you might have.

By Claudia Moynihan, Good Childhood Conversations Coordinator

Rocky’s Plaice Holiday Club photographs

Please enjoy these photographs of Rocky’s Plaice Holiday Club.