High Peak Community Arts AGM 2017

On Tuesday November 28th 2017, we held our AGM at the Providence URC Church in New Mills. The turnout was fantastic, and the evening enhanced by a wonderful performance by the Amarone Ensemble. Made up of a trio of talented musicians, all who currently play for the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ensemble treated our audience to spine tingling renditions of a number of musical pieces by composers including Handel, Elgar and Bach.

We circulated our latest annual report at the meeting. The report contains information about everything that the team has been up to from April 2016- March 2017. So much has happened – including canal boat art, lavendar and wool weaving and ceramic birdbath creations with Project eARTh; the Write to Roam and Young Writers Camp; the For The Love of Books early years learning programme; and the first year of our new partnership with Glossopdale Community College, Buxton Community School and Chapel-en- le-Frith Pupil Referral Unit via the Music Arts Pod project. It’s been a busy year, with the continuation of past projects and the start of many new ones. Huge thanks to our funders and supporters, without whom we would not be able to use the arts as a tool for positive change in local peoples lives.

Do have a read of our latest report, if you have time, and please let us know your thoughts!

On 22nd November Sophie hit London with Film Cuts Club leaders, Mark & Benn Turton. 

We had a grand day out as finalists for the Arts & Culture Award.  Which was a fantastic achievement, in a shortlist of only 4 organisations from across the country, including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Rhythmix who cover South West England and Curious Minds, who are the Arts Council ‘Bridge Organisation’ for North West England.

We didn’t win, but we met some lovely people working hard for young people all around the country.  It was just brilliant to be part of the Children and Young People Now year of 2017, and it’s so valuable for small charities like us to be considered on a level playing field with the big regional and national organisations.  We enjoyed meeting some of the other nominees in our category and swapping notes. 

Curious Minds won the Arts and Culture Award for all their work across the North West, and we had a great chat with Rhythmix from the South East who won the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award!

Children and Young People Now is the leading national magazine for professionals working in the sector and they launched the awards in 2006.

The Children & Young People Now Awards have become the gold standard for everyone working with children, young people and families. They provide a great source of pride and recognition for all those who strive day in, day out, to improve the lives of others. They offer an opportunity to raise the profile of projects and initiatives to funders and the general public.

And they present a tremendous showcase of learning and best practice from across the country that can be an inspiration to all. The awards recognise initiatives from the public, private and voluntary sector that work with children and young people from birth to adolescence as well as their families.