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Children and young people are helping to shape Medway |
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Welcome to our February edition of the Child-Friendly Medway newsletter
Filled with news of our recent events and details of what we have coming soon
Visit the Child-Friendly Medway webpage to keep up to date with our upcoming programming or visit our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page.
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Free Screening of 'Taylor Swift: The Era's Tour'
Two girls at our free screening of Taylor Swift: The Era's Tour, with full
Taylor Swift Ensemble - with T-shirt, hat, bag and bracelet
On Thursday, 18 January, Child-Friendly Medway hosted a free private screening of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour at the Odeon, Chatham, where we were joined by 152 Swifties from all over Medway!
Child-Friendly Medway won funding from the PCC Crime Reduction Fund to run a women and girls' event to raise awareness on tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). This film screening provided a safe space for women and girls to enjoy themselves.
We were joined by Kent Police at this event, who provided safety items to guests and spoke about women and girls’ safety. They also promoted the use of the Holly Guard app, a personal safety app which allows users to easily contact friends and family in an emergency, as well as live tracking data if a user alerts their safety contact.
In true Swiftie style, there was the opportunity to make friendship bracelets before the screening, where we saw some wonderful creations!
Taylor Swift is considered a feminist icon and has publicly faced issues of gender inequality, which she has written into successful songs, making her a strong icon for young women and girls, boosting confidence and raising aspirations.
Anticipation grew as Swift’s tunes could be heard over the speakers…and it wasn’t long before the cinema turned into a dance party, with women and girls dancing in their seats or making their way to the front of the screen to be as close to Taylor Swift as possible!
One mother became emotional, saying that she “hadn’t seen her daughter dance or sing as much before!”, while another commented that her two daughters (who usually don't get along) were hand-in-hand dancing and having fun together. She said that this was the first time she had attended a Child-Friendly Medway event, and looked forward to attending more in the future. She added that she had never been to an event for women and girls before, and was inspired by how safe and welcoming the event felt.
Attendees were gifted with their very own Taylor Swift poster, compliments of the Odeon Cinema.
Signs of Youth
 Drawings by children and young people for our Signs of Youth project
Since launching Child-Friendly Medway in April 2021, children and young people across Medway have said they want Medway to be cleaner and greener.
Our Signs of Youth project asks children and young people to submit a drawing that could be used to create a new sign in Medway. Shortlisted drawings will be printed onto aluminium and installed locally, as permanent signage across Medway.
Children and young people's feedback have inspired the 'Cleaner and Greener' themes for this project, which are:
- Take Care of Wildlife
- Plant More Flowers and Trees
- Dog Fouling
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Pollution
- Littering
Child-Friendly Medway has received hundreds of drawings from children and young people, but we want more! We have extended the deadline to Thursday, 29 February, so there is still time to submit your design!
If you would like to take part, draw your design on a blank piece of paper and email a photo to childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
If you're a school that would like to be involved, please email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk or visit the Signs of Youth webpage for further details.
Signs of Youth is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund UKSPF, and will be launching in spring 2024.
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'For the Love of Reading' Book Nooks
Child-Friendly Medway team member at a Book Nook
Child-Friendly Medway Book Nooks were launched as part of our ‘For the Love of Reading’ initiative, which strives to inspire a passion for reading among children and young people. In multiple studies, research has found that a child's ability to read is the highest indicator of their future success, and that the presence of books in the home is important for children and young people's development.
Book Nooks provide entertainment and encourage children and parents/carers to read while waiting for appointments when visiting the Medway Family Hubs or Wellbeing Centres.
As part of the launch, Child-Friendly Medway donated 216 books to create 8 Book Nooks. Titles and authors include ‘Fox’s Socks’ by Julia Donaldson, ‘That’s Not my Dragon’ by Fiona Watt and ‘Mog the Forgetful Cat’ but Judith Kerr.
The Book Nooks can be found at:
- Chatham Children and Family Hub
- Wayfield Children and Family Hub
- Strood Children and Family Hub
- Woodland’s Children and Family Hub
- Delce Wellbeing Centre
- Gun Lane Wellbeing Centre
- Oaklands Wellbeing Centre
- Twydall Wellbeing Centre
The Child-Friendly Medway Book Nooks are funded by Start for Life, to encourage and build an interest in reading from infancy, encouraging parents/carers to read to their children.
Start for Life is an initiative that supports the health of babies, children and their parents/carers, to give their families the best start in life.
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Free Screening of 'The Little Mermaid'
 Children and families watching 'The Little Mermaid'
On Saturday, 13 January, Child-Friendly Medway held a free screening of the live-action, reimagined classic ‘The Little Mermaid’ at MidKent College, Gillingham, which welcomed over 200 Medway children and families.
Child-Friendly Medway delivers free activities for all children, young people and families in Medway. Our film screening events are accessible for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), due to relaxed seating and volume control. One parent commented that our free events and activities have helped them to enjoy days out with their family, as the Cost of Living Crisis has made this financially challenging.
Before the film started, children took part in our Signs of Youth project, where they could draw ideas for what signs they would like to see in Medway. We collected over 50 designs from this event - we have some very creative children and young people in Medway!
After the creative activity, children and families made their way to the Glassbox Theatre (collecting healthy snacks and refreshments on the way) to watch ‘The Little Mermaid’ - what a magical film, with catchy songs that had guests singing and dancing in their seats.
This event was funded by Start for Life to support children and families.
Signs of Youth is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund UKSPF, and will be launching in spring 2024.
Women and Girls'
Creative Workshops
Two girls at our Women and Girls' Paint Night, showing their creation of a sunset landscape
Child-Friendly Medway won funding from Safer Streets to provide opportunities to help tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). We also won funding to provide events and activities for the whole family, which will be running later in the year.
Our VAWG programme is to support women and girls in Medway through confidence-building, skill-sharing and safe spaces, as well as providing access to information and support through multiagency partnership working.
As part of our VAWG programming, we will be running 16 Women and Girls Creative Workshops, for girls aged 12+ and an accompanying female adult. These workshops are led by facilitators at Nucleus Arts and have covered painting, jewellery-making, fimo-modelling and journal making so far. These events began in January and are running every Wednesday, 6-8pm at Nucleus Arts Centre, Chatham, until the end of April.
Each week there is a new craft activity, so please follow our social media if you would like to book. If you would like to share photos of what you have made at our Women and Girls Creative Workshops, please feel free to post to our socials and tag @childfriendlymedway.
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Upcoming events
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Women and Girls Creative Workshops
Creative workshops as part of our Women and Girls Programme with Medway Safer Streets.
These free events are for girls age 12+ to attend with an accompanying female adult.
Join us at Nucleus Arts Centre, Chatham, ME4 4BP for:
Jewellery Making on Wednesday, 14 February, 6-8pm.
Fimo Modelling on Wednesday, 21 February, 6-8pm.
Decoupage Picture Frames on Wednesday, 28 February, 6-8pm.
For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
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Doodle 'N' Draw
Join artist Nick Ashton for free, fun and flexible drawing workshops, for ages 12-18 year olds.
Every Saturday, 2pm to 4pm at Chatham Library.
For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
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Junior Doodle 'N' Draw
Join artist Nick Ashton for a free, fun and creative drawing session, for 7-11 year olds.
Every Saturday, 10am to 1pm at Chatham Library.
For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
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Soft Play and Story Corner
Join us for our free soft play and story corner sessions for under 5’s in The Pentagon Shopping Centre (next to Wilko).
Sessions run between 10:00am-11:00am and 11:00am-12:00pm; upcoming dates are Wednesdays, 21 February, 6 March, 20 March.
For more details and to reserve your space, email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
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Free Stage and Social Sundays
Join Dis-Ability Dance Co for free and inclusive drop-in dance, singing and drama sessions for children and young people, delivered by SEN and wheelchair specialist teachers.
Next session is Sunday, 25 February, 1.00pm-2.30pm at Woodlands Arts Centre.
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Family Fun Fri-YAY!
FREE drop-in sports activities for the whole family
at Medway Park, between 4.30pm -6.30pm.
Taking place monthly, next session is Friday 1 March.
Our aim is to be inclusive, for accessibility information, please email medwaysport@medway.gov.uk
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