Haywood Engineering College will be getting into the cultural spirit of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this week when their Community Games Festival takes on an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme.
A variety of games and activities inspired by real Olympic events will take place during the event from 11am to 4pm. Over 100 children will open the festival, parading through local streets in ‘Alice in Wonderland’ inspired costumes made by the young people themselves and also supplied by local professional costume company ST6.
The festival, which is organised by Haywood PTFA Committee and supported by ward budget, offers something for everyone including whacky games and sports inspired by the 2012 Games, a climbing wall, bungee run, skateboard workshop by Northern Rolling, dance displays on stage including youngsters from Wildstyle Break-dance School to more traditional fairground attractions and stalls.
The parade itself will tour the surrounding area of the school, along High Lane, down Greenbank Road and through Stanfields back up to the school. The parade will contain a variety of costumes made by the pupils of Haywood and partnering primary schools.
Councillor Hazel Lyth, cabinet member for adult social care, sport, leisure and culture, said: “The Haywood Festival is a great way to bring the community together to take part in sporting and cultural activity inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The costumes made for the parade are designed beautifully and I’m looking forward to meeting Alice and the Queen of Hearts who will be played by drama students from Haywood College itself.”
Jill Chadwick, parental co-ordinator at the college, added: “The whole school and whole community are coming together as one in a spectacular celebration which will showcase the many talents of pupils and other local schools for the benefit of everybody.”
Community Games provide a great opportunity for people to bring their community together to take part in sporting and cultural activities inspired by, and in celebration of, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Community Games bring people of all backgrounds together in towns, cities and village’s right across the West Midlands to take and play their part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The programme is inspired by the unique Olympic heritage of the West Midlands, the Wenlock Olympian Games. These have been held annually in Shropshire since 1850 and were the inspiration behind the modern Olympic movement. The original Wenlock Olympian Games differed from our vision of the modern Games though in that they were a celebration of both sporting and cultural achievement. It’s this spirit that we hope Community Games with embrace. By providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to try something new, teach others or show to the rest of their communities their talents, Community Games will provide people the opportunity to have their own Olympic or Paralympic moment.
Supported by the Legacy Trust UK and part of the West Midlands Culture Programme for London 2012, Community Games aims to bring communities together, giving them the confidence and skills to organize activities, leaving a legacy far beyond the end of 2012.
To find out more about Community Games in Stoke-on-Trent, how you can get involved, and the support on offer, email vanessa.darlington@stoke.gov.uk or telephone 01782 236156.