December 2021 newsletter
T’is the season to be jolly and despite gloomier developments of late, we’re firmly channeling our festive spirit! Stockings are hung, the halls are decked and reindeer feeding stations stocked high with carrots at LGP outposts across the region. With that in mind, we’re delighted to share news of a Winter Solstice Wild Word event we’re hosting in partnership with Brighton & Hove Libraries on 21st December between 11am - 1.30pm at Jubilee Library in Brighton. Little Green Pig workshop leader Natalie England will work alongside professional illustrator Simon Russell in a magical exploration of mythical trolls, inviting children aged 7 - 11 years old to dream up their winter wonderland landscapes and curious creatures. The event includes a free lunch being part of the HAF scheme, prioritising children in receipt of free school meals and places can be booked here, so do share amongst your networks.
And as we sign out of 2021, read on for our final update of the year…. We like to think that despite some challenges, it’s been one of our best yet.
Writing to the future….
Little Green Pig Time Capsule
Over recent months, After School Club members have been working on a unique project writing messages, poems, musings and even recipes to be sealed in a time capsule for future generations to discover. On Saturday 11th December, the children together with their families, LGP staff, volunteers and project partners gathered for a special celebration when the capsule was buried under the floor of The Regency Town House & museum in Brunswick Square. With a request inscribed on the capsule for it to stay unopened until January 2221, it was a magical moment as the children imagined its reveal in two centuries and how their future peers might respond to getting a glimpse of the way things once were.
The project was conceived by Monday Club workshop leader Natalie England and her father Neil from HBA Associates, specialists in historic building surveying, who kindly donated the time capsule and liaised with curators at The Regency Town House & museum. Natalie was interviewed by Nick Carter on BBC Radio Sussex on the morning of the event which you can listen to here, 1 hour and 43 minutes into his show, when she shares how intriguing and captivating the children’s vision of the future is.
Burying the Time Capsule in The Regency Town House & Museum
Monday Club Christmas sharing
The final Monday club of the calendar year took place at its usual site at Whitehawk Library but members filled the space to read aloud their festive poems and spoken word monologues attended by parents, carers and staff who were all super impressed with how the children’s writing has developed. Shanaiya perfectly captures the excitement we’re all feeling at the prospect of being able to hunker down, get cosy and celebrate with loved ones. As she says; 'It's not where you are, it’s who you’re with’ that matters…. And content warning, it will make you very hungry!
Happy Holidays to you from us all at Little Green Pig!!!