Our project, The FOLD donates activity packs for children over half-term

Lauren Zawadzki of Deco Publique with Lily Whittle and Katie from SELFA credit Stephen Garnett Photography

The disappointment of a third national lockdown, school closures and cancelled gatherings was challenged by the producers of The FOLD who, prior to the half-term holiday, donated 100 activity packs for primary school aged children to Skipton children’s charity, SELFA and Kendal Foodbank. The ‘Lets Create’ activity packs aimed to encourage creativity at home, particularly at a time when schools, activity clubs and youth provisions remained closed.

As you may have seen on previous blogs and on our social media, The FOLD began in January 2020, with a series of co-design sessions in which young people were invited to attend and share their ideas. Since summer 2020, The FOLD has been adapting their work to produce COVID-safe projects, whilst keeping in mind the young people’s initial wishes.

The ‘Let’s Create’, artist-led activity packs were devised with the expertise of five artists based in the North of England. The packs follow the Arts Council England Lets Create initiative which will see over 25,000 packs being distributed across the country through Arts Council England’s Bridge organisations and their local partners, such as museums, local authorities, schools, food banks and other charities.

Alongside the team, we’d like to thank 19 year-old, Lily Whittle, based in Settle, who has taken a leading role in the creation and distribution of the packs. After joining The FOLD co-design sessions at the beginning of 2020, Lily has been generating ideas and providing local knowledge, helping The FOLD adapt from its original aim of a live series of events to something more meaningful during the pandemic.

The packs follow the Arts Council England Lets Create initiative which will see over 25,000 packs being distributed across the country through Arts Council England’s Bridge organisations and their local partners, such as museums, local authorities, schools, food banks and other charities.

The tote bag and booklet cover have been designed by artist and graphic designer Molly Bland, who grew up in Tunstall near Kirkby Lonsdale and attended Queen Elizabeth School in Kirkby Lonsdale. Not only has the bag helped to develop creative skills during lockdown, it provided stationary needed for young people home-schooling.

The FOLD is produced by Deco Publique and funded by us.

Lauren, Director of Deco Publique said:

“The live events which we had supported the young people to create in 2020 intended to build a sense of communal experience and gathering – this has obviously been made impossible both last year and into 2021 by COVID-19. We can’t change that, but we can reimagine our programmes to ensure that creativity and opportunities for young people remain present in new and innovative ways. It’s also been really important that we support the artist and cultural sector as much as possible, otherwise they just won’t be there next time we need them. So, the ‘Let’s Create’ bags were an ideal, short-term solution in ensuring the act of making and creating doesn’t disappear from young people’s lives and artists are given paid opportunities.”

If you received a bag and enjoyed it – please let us know by tagging us on social media.

To find out more about the FOLD visit inthefold.co.uk or follow @thefold2020 on Instagram