Transitions Project

Transitions is a group specifically for year 6 and year 7 children to support them in navigating their journey from primary to secondary school, using creative arts as a tool and involving them in Rise Phoenix projects which can make a difference to their community.

They meet as a group 3 terms per year, every 2 to 3 weeks. Each term focuses on a different topic or theme.

Spring term 2006: ‘Working with Older and Younger People in the Community’
The group attended a sculpture workshop ‘Hands reaching out’ at the Hillwood Age Concern Centre for older people in Mornington Crescent. A young person partnered with an older person to make hands from clay.

Making clay hand sculptures	Creating a collage

Final touches	The Group at Hillwood

Feedback from OLDER PEOPLE:

‘We really enjoyed meeting you and doing the clay. Everyone from your group was polite, lively and smiley. Thank you.’

Josie (Manager of Age Concern Centre) ‘Thank you for coming. We were really surprised that all of our members had a go at the sculptures. One woman is recovering from serious throat cancer, but she came along and even finished her hand. You are welcome to come back again!’

Feedback from TRANSITONS GROUP:
‘I used to think old people were boring and smelt. But now I really like them and I want to go and work with them again.’

‘I really miss my grandmother, in Africa, so it was nice to be in their company and hear their stories. My grandmother used to tell me great stories from her memory.'

‘Old people can’t use their hands very well, cos’ of arthritis and stuff. But they are really nice and they let us help them with moulding the clay.’

Summer term 2006: ‘Understanding and working with the Environment’
This term started with a discussion group on the environment, how global warming has affected it; how to conserve the environment. We did a comparison between urban and rural areas (brainstorm) and then created two collages from this – one urban and one rural.

This was followed by a 3-day camp at Pertwood Organic Farm, where they dug, fenced and planted a vegetable garden.

Food camp	Food glorious food!

Hard at work!	Follow my lead!

The group also performed at the Camden Green Fayre in June, as the ‘endangered species of the King’s Cross Basin’ – in giant masks.

A case of the Bat...	...a Stag...

...and a moshpit at the Greenfair!

They've also been consulting on and designing a new wildlife garden at Regent’s Park, with ‘Wild in the Parks’.

Creating sculptures for the Charles Dicken's Roadshow

A second camp at Pertwood took place in September, where all the vegetables grown were dug up and eaten!

Preparing lunch!	Creating a path

Reading the signs	Hanging out!

Autumn term 2006: ‘Citizenship’
The group will rehearse and perform some forum theatre on the theme of ‘Anti-Bullying’ for Anti-Bullying week in schools in November. Each participant is involved in a ‘community task’ and some will be part of a global photography project with children in Tanzania