Congleton Community Projects will once again be hosting the town’s traditional Christmas lantern-making workshops on Saturdays 8th/15th/22nd November leading up to the Christmas Lights Switch on which will take place on Friday 28th November. Workshops run from 10.30am – 3.30pm in the Electric Picture House, Spindle Mill, next to the Beartown Brewery. These are drop in sessions and it takes about 1.5 hours to make a basic lantern. No skills were required and our experienced makers and volunteers made all the children and families welcome. All equipment is provided but most participants made a small donation(£1.50/£2) towards the cost of materials. Lantern makers then carry their lanterns in the the Grand Lantern Parade, which will be led by Karamba samba band and Santa in his sleigh at the Christmas lights switch-on. The workshops are a great opportunity for the community to take part in this popular annual event.

For further information contact Jo Money: 07833 742200 or email: jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org

This event was held in Congleton Park on Sunday July 6^th   from midday – 4pm and was a successful new community event. There was a great turn out for the dog shows which raised money for the RSPCA. There were doggy retail stalls, wildlife and animal protection charities and organisations, retail and charity stalls. Lots of kids activities, music, food trucks and the Beartown Bus Bar.

It was organised by the local RSPCA, Congleton Community Projects and Friends of the Park.

^{We will be holding the event again next year and if you would like to have a stall or volunteer on the day, contact jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org}

BigUpBuglawton was a brand new event this year and was created to celebrate Buglawton and its community. It was a free family fun day with lots of kids activities, circus skills, creative arts, forest school-type activities. DJ, refreshments and ice cream!

If you would like to get involved or have a stall at next year’s event please contact me at jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org

On Tuesday August  12th and 19th Congleton Town Centre hosted the annual Play Days in the pedestrian area from 10.30am-2.30pm. The idea is based on the National Play Day which takes place all over the country in August and is a celebration of children’s right to play, highlighting the importance of play and fun in children’s lives.

Play opportunities don’t need to involve expensive activities, costly toys, or trips to far-off destinations. It is often the simplest ideas, the free and found opportunities, which offer the most fun, and are the most developmentally beneficial for children and young people.

Fun activities included an African drumming workshop, giant Connex and other board games, which were kindly lent by Bromley Farm Community Centre. There were clay arts and crafts activities for active minds organised by the Electric Picture House, a children’s book swop, circus skills workshop, Everybody Leisure activities, Congleton library story time and Congleton Museum with games and information about their latest project Disappearing Nature. Congleton Youth Orchestra also had a stall offering children the chance to have a go at playing an instrument.

These free events were hosted by Congleton Community Projects and supported by Congleton Town Council, Congleton Inclosure Trust and Congleton Town Trust.

The Town Council hosted a further two Play Days on 29th July and 5th August with even more fun activities for kids and young people. Thanks to all the volunteers who came down to help out on the days including the Rangers and the scouts.

If you would like to get involved with these events in future contact us on  01260 270908 or email jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org

Watch this space for the Green Island Fiesta 2025

Thanks for celebrating the Green Island Fiesta with us in 2024

On Sunday September 8th we celebrated the rich history and community spirit of this special area of Congleton, with kids fair rides, art, food, drink, conversation and reminiscence. Until the relentless rain stopped play

Green Island is the area centred around Spragg Street, between Willow Street, Bromley Road, and Brunswick Street. It was once one of Congleton’s major industrial centres, known for its textile mills and workers’ houses, including the notorious Gibraltar Rocks. Thanks to those who brought their stories which were recorded by Anna Maluk from the Museum and they are still collecting oral histories and photographs of the area. Your stories and pictures are valuable memories to be kept safe for future generations and will help us show the history of Green Island to everyone who visits the museum.

The Museum also hosted a heritage walk through Green Island and talked about the area’s historical spots and historic past and the Electric Picture House was busy all day with creative arts workshops, open studios and a contemporary arts exhibition.

Congleton Community Projects will once again be hosting the town’s traditional Christmas lantern-making workshops on Saturdays 8th/15th/22nd November leading up to the Christmas Lights Switch on which will take place on Friday 28th November. Workshops run from 10.30am – 3.30pm in the Electric Picture House, Spindle Mill, next to the Beartown Brewery. These are drop in sessions and it takes about 1.5 hours to make a basic lantern. No skills were required and our experienced makers and volunteers made all the children and families welcome. All equipment is provided but most participants made a small donation(£1.50/£2) towards the cost of materials. Lantern makers then carry their lanterns in the the Grand Lantern Parade, which will be led by Karamba samba band and Santa in his sleigh at the Christmas lights switch-on. The workshops are a great opportunity for the community to take part in this popular annual event.

For further information contact Jo Money: 07833 742200 or email: jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org

This event was held in Congleton Park on Sunday July 6^th   from midday – 4pm and was a successful new community event. There was a great turn out for the dog shows which raised money for the RSPCA. There were doggy retail stalls, wildlife and animal protection charities and organisations, retail and charity stalls. Lots of kids activities, music, food trucks and the Beartown Bus Bar.

It was organised by the local RSPCA, Congleton Community Projects and Friends of the Park.

^{We will be holding the event again next year and if you would like to have a stall or volunteer on the day, contact jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org}

BigUpBuglawton was a brand new event this year and was created to celebrate Buglawton and its community. It was a free family fun day with lots of kids activities, circus skills, creative arts, forest school-type activities. DJ, refreshments and ice cream!

If you would like to get involved or have a stall at next year’s event please contact me at jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org

On Tuesday August  12th and 19th Congleton Town Centre hosted the annual Play Days in the pedestrian area from 10.30am-2.30pm. The idea is based on the National Play Day which takes place all over the country in August and is a celebration of children’s right to play, highlighting the importance of play and fun in children’s lives.

Play opportunities don’t need to involve expensive activities, costly toys, or trips to far-off destinations. It is often the simplest ideas, the free and found opportunities, which offer the most fun, and are the most developmentally beneficial for children and young people.

Fun activities included an African drumming workshop, giant Connex and other board games, which were kindly lent by Bromley Farm Community Centre. There were clay arts and crafts activities for active minds organised by the Electric Picture House, a children’s book swop, circus skills workshop, Everybody Leisure activities, Congleton library story time and Congleton Museum with games and information about their latest project Disappearing Nature. Congleton Youth Orchestra also had a stall offering children the chance to have a go at playing an instrument.

These free events were hosted by Congleton Community Projects and supported by Congleton Town Council, Congleton Inclosure Trust and Congleton Town Trust.

The Town Council hosted a further two Play Days on 29th July and 5th August with even more fun activities for kids and young people. Thanks to all the volunteers who came down to help out on the days including the Rangers and the scouts.

If you would like to get involved with these events in future contact us on  01260 270908 or email jo@congletoncommunityprojects.org

Watch this space for the Green Island Fiesta 2025

Thanks for celebrating the Green Island Fiesta with us in 2024

On Sunday September 8th we celebrated the rich history and community spirit of this special area of Congleton, with kids fair rides, art, food, drink, conversation and reminiscence. Until the relentless rain stopped play

Green Island is the area centred around Spragg Street, between Willow Street, Bromley Road, and Brunswick Street. It was once one of Congleton’s major industrial centres, known for its textile mills and workers’ houses, including the notorious Gibraltar Rocks. Thanks to those who brought their stories which were recorded by Anna Maluk from the Museum and they are still collecting oral histories and photographs of the area. Your stories and pictures are valuable memories to be kept safe for future generations and will help us show the history of Green Island to everyone who visits the museum.

The Museum also hosted a heritage walk through Green Island and talked about the area’s historical spots and historic past and the Electric Picture House was busy all day with creative arts workshops, open studios and a contemporary arts exhibition.