Pop Ups '25

We are very excited to be taking our new Pop Up programme into 2025 with more new faces and spaces.

On the creative side, we’ve been working hard with our art groups to find ways to feel inspired and learn new skills, so in addition to our art training session on Thursday afternoons, we’re very excited to introduce Art Pop Ups, which will bring a professional artist to both the Thursday art sessions. On Thursday 23rd January and Thursday 20th February 2025 we welcome Chris Layfield, who also joined us in the Summer, and he will be working with both groups to learn new artistic techniques and create pieces of artwork each week, and across the three months, that can either be displayed in our new CVL gallery to show off to the community, or taken home to appreciate the growth achieved. Chris will use his project to focus on our community spirit and how we can share that more widely, so anyone interested in sharing your passion for art, please join us!

Adding to this, we welcome Neil McNally from Climate Action Middlesbrough who is running art and nature classes, every Monday from 1pm to 3pm, aimed at people who are interested in learning more about nature and getting creative too. It’s a place to find nice walks and talks about nature along with time to write, draw, paint and create.

At any time of year, it’s important to be on top of your bills but especially energy bills in the Winter. We’re also seeing more and more people who want to know more ways to be efficient. We can get you started but each house and person is so unique, so we welcome Kelly Adams who joins us once a month on Wednesday 29th January between 11am and 2pm, to offer you dedicated help and guidance with this topic.

We’ve also created a regular place on Wednesday every week between 11am and 2pm, where you know you’ll be able to come with your queries or concerns and we’ll have the right people in to help you. And as we see more of what you need, we will tailor this Pop Up to provide the information and resources you ask for, so there’s more special guests to come too!

We can’t wait for you to try these out and look forward to your feedback about what we can do next! Please note, our newest addition, the ‘Healthy Hearts’ programme will begin in the coming months as we’re just finishing up our training and setting up a safe space for you to access the health information you need. We look forward to getting this going after we’ve all had a good rest and pick up with our Make, Move, Matter campaign.