THE ACTIVITIES

THE CENTRE

During our two-week sessions based in the lower school campus of Knutsford Academy the young carers enjoyed playing group games, workshops, craft activities and days out. We also enjoyed themed sessions run by the amazing teaching staff - these included looking at and learning about dreamtime stories, aboriginal markings, the Olympics, the Great Barrier Reef, Japanese art, print making, totem poles and drama sessions.

During Australasia week the young carers got to make their own boomerangs decorated with the aboriginal markings that we had learnt about followed by a competition to find out whose came back first. They then created their own mini totem poles using card and paint with animals and objects that we like. The young carers also learnt about the Great Barrier Reef and how coral can regenerate over time and the impact of coral bleaching. Following this the young carers got to design and draw their own coral reef.

We also looked and learnt about Japanese art this week with the young carers learning about a popular Japanese art called Manga. They then had a go at drawing their own Manga character. We also looked at India’s famous drama culture Bollywood and had a go at some dancing and re-enacting some action scenes from a Bollywood action movie. Along with learning about the popular Bollywood culture the young carers also learnt about the tradition of Rangoli and Mehndi patterns and created their own prints and piece of art.

The young carers also got to take part in some team games and activities including escape room type maths puzzles where the young carers had to solve the puzzles as a team to unlock the different padlocks to discover the next clue. We also made use of the vast grounds and played games such as hide and seek (a firm favourite), rounders, football and some Olympic style activities.

THE ACTIVITIES

MULTIMEDIA PICTURES

During Asia week we got crafty using a range of different art mediums and materials to create 3D photo frames. Laid out on the table were lots of images of Asia, different coloured card and paper, tissue paper, colouring pens and pencils, craft scissors and accessories. The young carers each gathered some materials consisting of their favourite colours and their images. We all then decorated an A4 piece of card using the gathered materials, and some even wrote messages in different Asian languages! Many young carers used positive affirmations on their frames like ‘be kind’, ‘you can do anything you set your mind to’ etc. After we had made our base of the frame, we used acrylic pens to decorate the plastic by outlining shapes and words and drawing new things. The young carers were all so excited to take their frame home and share their creations.

CLAY PRINT MAKING

The young carers loved experimenting with print making, taking inspiration from the art and culture of Asia, and using natural materials and botanical patterns. The young carers used clay to create shapes inspired by different types of decorative pottery and traditional sculptures such as the Terracotta Warriors. The young carers also got experimental using different flowers and leaves to press into the clay sculptures and tiles to see what printed patterns they left behind. The patterns created by the printed flowers and leaves were beautiful and so intricate, the young carers gained confidence throughout the workshop to experiment with other materials and foraged natural forms to see what patterns they made. The young carers also took inspiration from their favourite tv shows and books, creating sculptures and 3D images. The process of working with the clay was just as impactful as the final outcomes for the young carers, as they enjoyed playing with the texture or the clay and found it relaxing.

In Australasia week the young carers had the challenge of capturing the ocean using a number of creative techniques. The first part of the workshop was the most challenging as the young carers created origami whales. This took a lot of patience and a few attempts, but the outcome was really impressive to the young carers. They loved learning to create a 3D model out of one piece of paper and a sequence of folds and were so excited to go home and show their friends and families. The second part of the workshop took inspiration from the colour and movement of the ocean. Using watercolour, the young carers created beautiful colour blended patterns which they used in an experiment using salt to see how it created texture and unique shapes in the paint. The young carers then used this painting technique using salt to paint their origami whales. The final part of the workshop tied all the other elements together. Using sea glass, the young carers learnt how to tie the pieces of sea glass together to create a hanging decoration. Some young carers picked sea glass that matched the colours used in their whales and created a beautiful hanging sculpture by attaching the origami whale at the end.

SEA SCULPTURES

ONLINE ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY PACKS

To fit in with our virtual ‘Trip Around the World’ theme, young carers were sent weekly digital activity packs in the shape of passports to six continents - Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, South America and North America. Each passport contained interesting facts about the continents, craft activities, reading activities and videos, physical activities and games as well as colouring pages and puzzles. By sending out digital packs to all our young carers we are also able to support those who are unable to attend face to face sessions.

FAMILY COOKING

TRIVIA NIGHTS

Our online family cooking sessions continue to be popular with young carers, and for our ‘trip around the world’, all of the healthy recipes were themed around the different continents. Young carers were able to learn new culinary skills as Sarah led the group with step-by-step instructions and encouraged the young carers to try new ingredients. Recipes included Beef Stroganoff, Cape Malay Veggie Curry, Chicken and Mushroom Ramen, Australian Hot Pot and Beef and Chorizo Empanadas.

Trivia nights were back by popular demand throughout the Summer every Thursday which the young carers and their families could join on Zoom. We had Summer themed Bingo where everyone was invited to get their sunhats and sunglasses on and dance around to some tropical island tunes. With the winner of the first line and ’bingo’ getting Amazon vouchers as prizes there were lots of happy smiles from young carers and family members. We also had Family Quiz nights which featured questions on the theme of the different continents we were traveling to that week, with the winners of 1st, 2nd and 3rd all getting Amazon vouchers as prizes too. The young carers and their families love the fun interactive aspects of the Quiz which allows them to let their competitive side blossom as they race to get to the top of the leader board. For the final trivia night, we also took inspiration from the different continents with a range of fun Gameshow rounds. The first rounds challenged the young carers and their families on their knowledge of European languages. Asking them to name a number of ways to say ‘Hello’ in different European languages, with the quickest to answer winning a prize. Round 2 was inspired by Australasia and the Coral Reef where young carers and their families had to be the quickest to complete the sink or swim challenge by being the quickest to find an object that sinks and object that swims. Round Three was inspired by the different logos of companies across the world where young carers and their families would battle it out on Kahoot to get the highest on the leader board by guessing the correct logo. The Gameshow finale is probably the favourite round with the young carers and their families which is the Speed Fancy Dress round! This time the young carers and their families had 5 minutes to dress up like the Statue of Liberty, with the criteria having to have something to resemble a draped dress, a crown, and a lamp. The young carers and their families had such a fun time getting creative and competitive within the time limit.