YOUTH ART CLUB EXPANDS. SWINDON’S largest children’s visual arts organisation celebrates the successful piloting of a new children’s after school club. The ‘Let’s Move Activity Club’.
Let’s Create Art Club, founded by artist Rachel Bray, allows children to explore painting, drawing, sculpture and design in a safe, fun, and pressure-free environment through:
- after-school clubs
- weekend workshops and …
- holiday art camps for children aged four to twelve.
Spreading wings as the youth art club expands
As the business spreads its wings, Kevin Bray, Rachel’s husband, has come on board. He’s joining forces to expand Let’s Create Art Club’s ethos with ‘Let’s Move Activity Club’. This is a no-pressure and supportive environment around movement through games.
‘Over more recent years, as Let’s Create has grown, we had discussed a few times Kev joining the business in this way. And the perfect time came along’ said Rachel. \We expected working together as husband and wife to be a bit of a challenge but it’s been pretty easy so far!’
Through Rachel’s six years of running Let’s Create Art Club she’s seen for herself the need for children to have access to non-competitive and accessible movement-based fun.
I’ve seen and heard for myself that some children don’t want to join team sports. They either don’t feel comfortable with the pressure so don’t join in. Or don’t feel they’re very good at sports and avoid them. But the one thing these children still want to do is have fun and run around!’ she continued.
This expansion is an after school club that Kevin will run along with other leaders. It’ll be full of fun games and activities to get kids moving and active without the competitiveness or pressure of a specific sport.
Keen on sports
Kevin is a sports fanatic. Besides being a qualified gym instructor, he is completing his Level 2 Qualification in Coaching Multi-Skills Development and Sport. Further, he’s been an active team sports player since his youth. Knowing the effect sport and movement has had on his life, he wanted to provide an opportunity for Swindon’s young people to benefit from a supportive and non-pressure environment.
‘There’s been lots of laughter and engaged children over these weeks, it’s been a lot of fun for both the kids and for me!’ said Kevin. ‘We’re excited to see what the future holds for Let’s Move Activity Club.‘
Led by Kevin, ‘Let’s Move Activity Club’ piloted three after school clubs in term 5 across Swindon at Red Oaks, Peatmoor and Kingfisher primary schools. After a few weeks of sessions, the feedback has been most positive.
A Peatmoor Primary parent said: ‘My child loves the club, says it’s the best one she has ever been to!’
Fitness and movement have always been a big part of our lives along with our children’s. It’s my firm belief that creativity and movement are two key fundamentals of childhood. We want children to first enjoy the activity of movement and creating. Then the skills can and will follow but enjoyment needs to be the foundation,’ said Rachel.
Let’s Create Art Club is a member of the Institute of Children’s Activity Providers (ICAP). That ensures the club meets high standards for safety, inclusion and engagement.
To book a place at ‘Let’s Move Activity Club’ or Let’s Create Art Club, or if you are a school interested in offering one of their clubs, please visit Let’s Create Art Clubs’ website: https://www.letscreateartclub.co.uk/
