Fire crew light up festive season for youngsters
AROUND 1,100 children in Darnhill received an early Christmas present thanks to Cartwheel Arts and the Darnhill Festival Association (DFA).
Creative Christmas art packs were delivered to every child at four schools - St Margaret’s, Our Lady & St Paul’s, Woodland Primary and Heap Bridge.
The boxes contain art materials and a booklet containing 16 activities designed by Cartwheel’s freelance artists Natalie Linney, Abi Rogers, Laura Sutcliffe-Tasker, and Oliver and Charlotte Bishop from Yan Tan Tethera.
The booklet was designed free of charge by Lily Norwood and the art packs were delivered to schools by Bamford Print.
Maxine Beresford, Headteacher at St Margaret’s CE Primary said: “This is a tremendously generous gift and really appreciated by all the pupils and the school.”
Kathleen Chorlton from the Darnhill Festival Association said:“After receiving some funding from the National Lottery Awards for All and after talking to our friends and partners at Cartwheel Arts we decided to offer the children in our four primary schools this creative activity box.
“We are very grateful to The Guinness Partnership for also making a contribution to the project.” The Guinness Partnership’s support didn’t stop there, with the housing provider funding a programme of spectacular fire shows by Travelling Light Circus, a Manchester based collective of entertainers who were also due to appear at Darnhill Festival.
The choreographed routines featured fire jugglers, poi spinners, fire hula hoop and fire fans visiting St Margaret’s CE Primary on December 11 and performing again at Our Lady and St Paul’s school on Tuesday, December 15.
Vicki Greer, Cartwheel Arts Project Manager said: “It’s been a tough year for everyone, not least for the schools and so it’s been great to bring a bit of spectacle and joy to Darnhill. It was so nice to see so many smiling faces at the show last week.”