The Coracles of Sharrow
- Saturday 15th June 2024 -
Celebration event at Winscar Reservoir marks the end of 6 month ‘Coracles of Sharrow’ project
The team of 11 young people involved in the Coracles of Sharrow project have been working towards this event day for the last six months. They teamed up with the Future Makers drama group to create a performance that was an integral part of the event day. In total 21 young people took part in the event at Winscar reservoir in the Peak District on Saturday the 15th June, where they carried 3 Coracles that they created themselves onto the water. The group created a performative procession around the boats and a set of smaller performances based on the stories the group developed around the boats.
The event day could not have happened without the help of Pennine Sailing Club who supported the young people on the water and provided an amazing venue for us to use, the Coracles team would like to express their gratitude for the hospitality and generosity of everyone at the Sailing club, and a special thank you to Commodore Pete for helping us to arrange everything.
The project set out to give the young people a chance to do something new and exciting that connects them to the wider world outside urban Sharrow and also connects to the past through craftsmanship and storytelling. Giving the participants the skills to build a craft that will carry them onto the water, into new unknown experiences and environments. Hopefully this can be an empowering example of our capacity for change. The group worked hard over six months to build the boats, they learned new skills, were able to express themselves creatively and engaged with new activities and people. They have created a new story for the community that connects them both to the rural environment and to the urban one in which they live and also connects them to each other. The range of talent in the group is phenomenal, from practical hammer and nails craft to singing, comedy and dramatic performance. It has been a privilege for me to watch the young people getting to know one another, really committing to the project and reap the rewards of their work. I think it is evident in the smiles on the faces in the photographs that they had a good time! Although the weather was a little squally, on the day, everyone gave 100%.
From the Coracles team, Chris Jarrett, Lucy Halstead and Future Makers leader Stacey Sampson we would like to say a massive thank you to Sharrow Community Forum and the Youth Investment Fund for allowing the project to happen. Also to Rainbow Cafe for supplying us with lovely food, BeeWise Travel for our transport. The support of staff Steve Givnan and photographers Peter Martin, Fergus Charmichael and Kev Jones.
There will be public events in the autumn where we show the film of the project and share the book that is being produced. This will lead towards an exhibition of all of the work when the new building opens at Highfield Adventure Playground.
