Community Spirit in Charlestown is Alive and Well
On Wednesday, 25th March, we gathered the local community for our Charlestown Connect event, and what a day it was! Doors opened at 15:30pm to a line that snaked around the sports hall. Clearly, this was going to be an afternoon to remember.
A line of hungry pupils quickly assembled for Harry’s Chippy’s mega spread of free chips, sausages, pies, fish cakes, chilli, rice, chicken curry and gravy. There were hot containers of food and satisfied faces all round as everyone tucked in to a much deserved chippy tea.
The vibes were electric in Karaoke Corner, where the mic was passed between superstar after Co-op Academy North Manchester superstar. Anyone was welcome to pick a song and have a go as all ages stepped up to the mic and sang their hearts out. While some found their voice on stage, others found a different kind of rhythm on the basketball courts. Demonstrations throughout the event kept all comers active, and helped them burn off a chip or two in the process!
Theatrical chops were provided by MAD Theatre Company. Their demonstrations and acting workshops delighted our Charlestown thespians. Anyone would think a revolution in drama was happening right under our noses in the Charlestown Community…
There was fun and games everywhere you looked, but elsewhere at the event, someone was hard at work keeping our pupil’s bikes in good working order. Our superstar bike mechanic worked tirelessly through the event to maintain bikes and give a few maintenance pointers along the way. Helping kids stay active is just one benefit of offering free bike maintenance, it also gives them a reliable way to get around. It helps them get into school, boost their attendance and take advantage of all the opportunities we offer them at Co-op Academy North Manchester.
No community fair is complete without a tombola, and ours was a runaway success. Every prize was claimed, with competitors leaving the event over the moon with their armfuls of prizes. All proceeds from the tombola will be put back into the Charlestown community through our upcoming essentials shop. Stay tuned!
"It was great to work alongside Susan, Charlotte, Claire and all the staff at the Co-op Academy to put on this fantastic event. We brought in over 20 local organisations and services to offer support and advice to parents and families around the cost of living situation. Local youth services, a theatre performance and singers from the school gave the event some entertainment and activities to get involved with that the young people really enjoyed. The chippy tea was a roaring success too! Well done to everyone involved and I hope we can continue to work in partnership to develop more opportunities’ to help local families." (Simon, Neighbourhood Community Development Officer, MCC Neighbourhoods Team)
A massive thank you to our partners at Manchester City Council and all the staff and pupils who supported the event. We’re keeping the Charlestown community spirit alive and well. See you next year!
It wasn't all heavy lifting. Academy spirit and good-natured rivalry took hold as the day ended with a lively Maths Relay Competition. Our home team didn't secure a win this time, but the energy in the room was fantastic. The pupils left confident in the new skills in their tool belts.
Anyone who visits our courtyard on a Friday lunchtime will see a queue of pupils going right out the door. What are they queueing for? The Rewards Shop, of course! Mr. Greenfield's shop has become a Friday tradition that all of us look forward to.
our way pens: They write in four different colours, and the pupils love them. What more is there to say? They never go out of style.
Chill vibes: We’ve also prizes pupils can take home for a well-earned chill out session. Snoodles, blankets and wireless headphones complete the package.
For our superstars in years 7-10, we even arranged an afternoon of inflatable fun! It was a treat to see our most consistently well-behaved, attentive pupils let loose for a day's inflatable fun.
The session started with a demonstration of the art of the fish fillet. A fundamental, albeit fiddly, technique for any committed fishmonger. The session pushed a few of our pupils out of their comfort zone, especially when it came to handling the fresh produce. But once they’d familiarised themselves, there was no stopping them. Several pupils discovered a natural talent, and their confidence grew. Before the first hour was up, every pupil had rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in, showing focus and technical precision.
