We have been up and running at The Chapel since October 2021 with regular groups, events and activities organised on a small-scale, and in a careful way as we edge back to full capacity after Covid-19.
At the moment the programme is:-
Little Tiddlers – for pre-schoolers on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10.30am – 1pm during term time
Mighty Minnows – a new group for those aged between 5-8 years on Wednesdays, 4.30-5.30pm during term time
Pick n Mix – for those aged 9-13 years, on Thursdays, 4.30-5.30pm during term time
Up Club – 8- 18 years, Mondays, 4.30-6.30pm, during term time
Ms Creative – girls and young women aged 12 and over, Saturday and Sunday, bi-monthly
Poppy and her textile work created during Ms Creative sessions
Lots of people are enjoying the Chapel and all its wonderful facilities and spaces and we have had a footfall of over 1,200 since October 2021.
We are opening the doors to families and local people on 11 September 2022 as part of the national Heritage Open Day scheme – come along between 10.30 am and 4pm for tea, cake and a guided tour around our new home with a sneak preview of what the main Chapel space will look like when it’s finished, plus you can make a souvenir to take home. The main Chapel will be a flexible re-imagined space for Shabang families to enjoy with the added extras of finely preserved treasures from it’s days as a place of worship for the local community including a working organ, wooden pews, upper gallery, decorated pillars and vestry rooms.
If you fancy coming along to the Heritage Open Day please give us a ring/or text us so that we can put on the entry list –
Shabang’s Summer Work
Not only do we run regular activites and sessions at The Chapel but we also go out and about performing for other organisations and at other events:-
CastleFest – a day-long interactive performance and parade at Castle Hill School involving all the children and staff
Bradford Portage Picnic – participatory performance for children and their families
The Childen’s Biennale – Magnificent Me – invited to take part in the programme of events in Huddersfield town centre with a participatory performance for children and their families
IncludFEST 2022 – we will be performing for the second time at this festival in Durham in collaboration with Tin Arts in early autumn
Fantastic Volunteers
We are really lucky to work with fantastic volunteers here at Shabang – young people with additional needs, local members of the community, local businesses, artists and friends – and we wanted to say a big thank you for all their brilliant work in making the Chapel such a great place to be and work, including …
Water lilies in the Chapel garden pond
Jo, Aisling, Flo and Max at Little Tiddlers sessions
Ava and Alwi at Pick n Mix sessions
Max at Up Club sessions
Elsa – thank you for your volunteer time at Pick n Mix
Judy and Ruben for their gardening skills, and we love Judy’s generous baking too
Jan for admin skills and general all round helpfulness
Lily for sewing skills and practical getting stuck in
Sylvi for her textile artist skills
Jane and Tania, visiting musicians and friends from Australia for the music session
We couldn’t do it without you!
