In August 2006, a group of four to 18 year olds enjoyed an afternoon of activities at Glasgow Fort Shopping Park. This was hosted by Greater Easterhouse Development Company (GEDC), Glasgow Young Scot and retailers. Glasgow’s Young Scot Card and KidzCard holders enjoyed many free activities. These included fashion shows modelled by local youth groups and a 130 foot inflatable course called ‘Gladiator Mega Challenge’. Other popular activities included professional caricaturists and aerial performances from the Spinal Chord Project. GEDC, Careers Scotland and John Wheatley College also gave information on local education, employment and training opportunities.
In 2006 we built on the success of the 2005 Performing Pictures creative theatre project at Regent’s Place in London. Another group of young people from Haverstock School in Camden visited Regent’s Place with a visual artist and viewed our public space artworks. They then went back to school for a series of creative workshops. They worked with professional musicians to create their own music and with professional dancers to create their own dance pieces. They then gave a lunch-time performance in Triton Square at Regent’s Place for local residents and workers. This was followed by a performance at school for their families. Conceived and run by Create, a dynamic creative arts charity, Performing Pictures was funded by British Land, Regent’s Place occupier Abbey and the Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust. Broadgate Estates and Camden Council provided support.
Blythe Valley Park in Solihull held a charity fun run raising funds for local good causes. UK Athlete Jonathan Moore started the race and over 100 adults and children took part.
During August people at Broadgate in London enjoyed a three-day series of equestrian events at lunch-time, with performances from a Jive Pony Display team and a dressage display from a top ranked rider, Paul Hayler. A demonstration from the K9 Freestyle Dog Dancing involved dogs and handlers performing as a team to their chosen music. The performers included the duo who won the 2006 Crufts Freestyle competition. Find out more about events at Broadgate www.broadgatelive.co.uk.
During the winter Broadgate occupiers and local schools can book to use Broadgate’s outdoor ice rink free of charge. In 2006 children from the local Lyceum School were given season tickets to the ice rink in thanks for their artwork depicting 'Winter in the City'. The winners' colourful images were displayed on hoardings around the rink. The rink is also home to the Broomball League which is free to watch. Find out more by visiting: www.broadgateice.co.uk
The Mayor of Slough unveiled the longest sari in the world at Queensmere Observatory Shopping Centre in Slough. There were beautifully decorated saris on display as well as colourful bhangra dancing, music, and presentations. The final sari was 411 metres long, with 75 sections, breaking the previous record by over 30 metres.
On Sunday 2nd July over 100 local toddlers came to Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield. They toddled around the malls with their parents and carers as part of Barnardo’s ‘Big Toddle’, a national sponsored walk.
836 children from 14 local primary schools participated in a five-day reading event at The Source at Meadowhall in 2006. This was part of our continued support of the National Literacy Trust’s ‘Reading is Fundamental’ initiative.
