"United with spirit and pride": creativity and community through coronavirus
Creativity through the coronavirus pandemic
Young people’s creativity, drive and energy has always had the power to spark change. Now, while we figure out what life looks like during a global pandemic, young people are finding new ways to let their talents shine through and approaches to coming together as a community – keeping a safe distance apart.
Elle Irvine, a corporal in the RAF Cadets 610 Squadron, has been using her time to teach other cadets through video calls, helping them to keep connected. She’s also written this fantastic, uplifting poem, sharing her support and creativity with the country from her home at Bridge Foyer:
In a global pandemic, Britain will rise,
Where we’re all united with spirit and pride,
Where countries feel useless stuck in their homes,
We applaud our hard workers and draw rainbows for hope.
To those who lost loved ones without a goodbye,
We stand by and support through difficult times,
For people who can’t leave and gather supplies,
Our volunteers donate, distribute and save lives.
Despite isolation, we have time to reflect,
Time with our loved ones we never thought we’d get,
And now we realise what we took for granted,
And be so grateful for the future we were handed.
Through COVID-19 our country resolutes,
From our doctors in stethoscopes to our soldiers in boots,
In the near future when this is all behind us,
We can proudly say we beat coronavirus.
We’ve also loved seeing the fantastic artwork from Sophie at Coops Foyer in Wigan. She has been using her time to create beautiful pieces like this one using a paint-by-numbers kit and a serious amount of talent. We find her ability to focus on growing her skills during this time truly inspiring.
At both Verve Place Foyer and YMCA Derbyshire, staff and residents have come up with some fantastic ideas for spending time together and lifting each other’s spirits while adjusting to the safe distance guidelines. Yoga is a great way to relax and reduce anxiety, as well as taking some time to yourself and getting bendy enough to touch your toes! Derby made great use of their outdoor space to hold a spread-out session, while Verve took their class online.
YMCA Derbyshire made the most of the good weather last week to get out there and raise their heart rates! From table tennis and pool tournaments to sunshine dance classes and boxing sessions, their bright ideas just go to show what you can do with a bit of creative thinking and careful planning.
And finally, we were thrilled with this rare glimpse of the Easter bunny over, caught red-handed in Ravenhead Foyer. We’re glad to see he’s taking all the necessary precautions!
Let us know what’s been happening at your Foyer! Email [email protected] to share your work with the world.
