Something wicked this way comes, and when I say wicked I mean seriously fun!
It’s that time of year again! Spooky decorations are going up, the shops are full of costumes and face paints and multi bags of sweets and if you’re anything like me, you’re eyeing up all that cardboard and wondering what creative solution you can come up with.
FOSP (Friends of Springfield Park) is a volunteer group that, unsurprisingly, looks after Springfield Park in Knotty Ash, Liverpool. The park is something of a changeling itself, following the completion of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital a number of years ago, the park space was due to undergo a wonderful transformation before being officially handed back to the community. Well, we’re still waiting. But that doesn’t stop the FOSP gang from providing opportunities for kids to thrive.
Among hundreds of other things, FOSP has built and filled flowerbeds, had accessible benches installed, brought in a permanent ping pong table, planted and grown vegetables, held countless half-term and summer camps and fed more children during truly testing times, for free, than any other volunteer group I know. They’re superheroes. Real-life superheroes.
This October I get the opportunity to mash up two of my favourite things. Supporting FOSP and Halloween. I’ve been commissioned to design, create and run a Halloween Village for 30 children, ages 3 – 10 on Halloween weekend.
The flyer is officially done and booking is officially open. I haven’t seen my kitchen in a fortnight due to all the cardboard, wood, paint, glue and fabric I’ve amassed to start making props and games for the kids to enjoy. Once again the phenomenal, Bay Tree Catering School jumped at the chance to get involved and make pizzas with the kids, while Caroline Moore dons her broomstick to fly in for story time in the ‘witches’ circle. It’ll be a riot, oh and it’s totally free.
Everything I’m making is recyclable. Nothing has been bought brand new. Bootle car boot sale, eBay, friends and neighbours have come up trumps with all the materials we need to entertain the kids for a few hours and help them make some lasting memories.
It goes without saying that my enthusiasm for creative work is never anything less than 100%. Knowing all the work is purely so that kids can have fun and be kids, is the best motivation.
Thank you to Donna and all the team at FOSP who work tirelessly on behalf of our community to make things better for us all.
You can book your place to visit the Halloween Village, now. Details are on the flyer, booking is essential. Hopefully, see you there, don’t forget your broomstick!
Kate Reilly James 