A Gamelan is an Indonesian orchestra, last Summer we took our Inclusive Club for a session with ‘Gamelan at Play’ this session went very well with everyone enjoying the experience of playing in the orchestra. We were later offered the opportunity to host the Gamelan for a month, this was part of a project which had been funded in Chopwell but the group concerned were unable to take part. During this month long residency all of our user groups were invited to play on the Gamelan as well as groups from outside including several local schools and other community groups. During this time we discussed the possibility of producing an event for the Blaydon Races Festival. The funding was secured with a grant from Gateshead Council and the Gamelan returned to Blaydon in May to prepare for The Festival Event, ‘The Blaydon Wayangs’. Young people from our Inclusive Club, St Joseph’s and Blaydon West Primary Schools would work with a storyteller to devise a story and then work with a Puppet maker to design and make shadow puppets with which to tell their story. They were to then perform this to an audience at the Youth Club in front of an audience of family and friends. Our group took part in all three sessions, story, puppets and music and enjoyed these new activities. This was an exciting project that gave many young people the opportunity to try these new activities it was a useful, fun and educational experience which the young people enjoyed.

For the past year we have had ’Active Kids’ operating on a Saturday morning 10.00 - 12.00(term time only), this is a collaboration between Youth and Play sections providing fun activities for children 7 to 19 years. Access to these sessions are by referal only, contact Lysanne Etherington 0191 4332779 for information.

Throughout the past year the Junior Youth Club has been running every Friday from 6.00 - 7.30pm. We have continued to attract new members whilst deepening our relationships with existing members. Since last year we have provided sport, craft, cooking and group activities for the children who attend. We have a good team of volunteers which includes two parents and seven young leaders. These are all local young people with varying degrees of experience and skills but we have seen them all grow in confidence and ability though out their time with us. The children who attend mainly come from Blaydon and Winlaton and we have an average attendance of approximately 45 children. As well as the usual Friday evening activities we also held a Christmas play and stall. This was once again supported very well by members of the community. In June we organised a sports week - ‘In Touch’, in which the children came daily during their half-term holiday. They were coached in various sports such as basketball, athletics, football, rugby. The athletics coach is a retired Olympian and he saw real potential in one of the children as a runner. With some encouragement the family have taken her to join a local Harriers club and so we were delighted at the impact the week had on her especially.

Catherine Edmunds Junior Club Volunteer