Tow Law generations celebrate Jubilee

Tow Law generations celebrate Jubilee.

In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, County Durham Community Foundation helped fund some brilliant community projects.

One such project was run by local charity, Building Self-Belief, which was awarded £9,600 through the Let’s Create Fund to support celebrations in Tow Law.

Living history

Building Self-Belief worked with the Shoddy Theatre company, Tow Law Community Centre, the town’s Community Association, Tommy Anderson from Baseline Shift, children from Tow law Millennium Primary School, and local residents to talk about Queen Elizabeth, and what life was like back when she took the throne. Children learned how the country has changed over the past 70 years and become more multicultural.

The project finished with a 1950s-style Jubilee Community Tea, where the children shared what they had learned and put on a creative performance for the wider community. The weekend event took place at the community centre on the  Jubilee weekend, and brought together generations for one of the first times since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Quality education

Children who took part were encouraged to lead the celebrations and feel empowered by the project. Throughout the project, the children explored the Jubilee theme through reading, art work, cooking and performing.

The children made a graphic design Jubilee Banner which will move to Beamish Museum in the autumn, and created a film to premiere at the final event and as a thank you to County Durham Community Foundation and The Arts Council for their support.

Christine Thomas, Chief Executive said “The Platinum Jubilee project enabled Building Self-Belief CIO to support the Tow Law Community, and develop the art, performance & creative skills of those involved.

“It has built lasting community links and fostered and developed the creative skills of the young people involved.

“It was a wonderfully rewarding project but only possible with the support of the Foundation, National Lottery & Arts Council England.”

Building Self-Belief have developed a series of programmes designed to improve the self-confidence and self-belief of young people. These include a Wellbeing Programme, Bridging the Gap Between Education and Work, Year 6 Transition Heritage Programme and an Environmental Programme. Their aim is to create stronger connections between our young people and their communities by fostering a sense of purpose and helping them realise their full potential in life.