We have been busy since the start of the year with lots of fun and exciting new activities at our sessions. In January, we ran a Family Fun Day with an activity provided by Mandala Hoops, a local organisation who promote wellbeing, exercise and fun through hula hooping. Our members and their families had a great time playing with the hoops, dancing and learning new tricks. We also learnt that some of our youngest members are very talented Hula Hoopers!
During February half term we had a session provided by The Animal Man. These sessions are always popular and families really enjoyed seeing, and being able to touch and hold, a variety of creatures including an owl, guinea pig, two snakes, a Bearded Dragon and more unusual animals such as a Tenrec. Some of the children (and parents) were afraid to touch the snakes at first, but after Natalie (the Animal Handler) gently showed them the animals many were brave enough to touch them for the first time.
The members at our Senior Club session (our Thursday evening Respite Club for teenagers) told our staff last year that they would like to have a camp fire. Two of our staff members, Anne and Tim, are both trained to run Forest School activities, and they are also passionate about them, so they were only too happy to oblige. After the weather let us down before Christmas, our members finally had their campfire at the beginning of March. After a talk about fire safety, the group thoroughly enjoyed sitting round the fire, cooking marshmallows and baking some apples. The group also had a go at whittling the sticks for the marshmallows and also tried their hand at fire striking (under strict supervision!). The main response from members was, ‘Thank you!’ and ‘When can we do it again?’ We are lucky at Our Space to have a huge outdoor space and a woodland area so we look forward to lots more outdoor bushcraft activities over the lighter months.
In March we invited Indian Fusion to our Family Fun Day and had a fun time Bollywood dancing! Everyone had a great time and some of our parents and carers in particular showed us some great moves!
If you would like more information about our forthcoming activities, please contact us.
