Team meal

A little late to be posted but on Tuesday night we went out for some team bonding food eating drinking event. (More images to come at a later date)

Sunday morning design consultation.

So we found ourselves at the Arbourthrone Community Church for the service on Sunday morning. Alistair had allowed us the opportunity to talk to the congregation and engage them in a participation and consultation exercise. The service began in its usual manner with the gathered people joining in worship and then the floor was opened to us. Tom, dressed up specially for the occasion, delivered a quick PowerPoint presentation and then introduced the topics for discussion in our small groups.

Ideas for making the building more visible to the estate come thick and fast, including painting the breeze blocks, lighting the building with colour and a giant shark coming out of the roof. (thanks Andrew)

We also discussed the need for the community centre to advertise its events, be this through a notice board, digital projection or using a giant fan to ticker tape the estate with the events. (another useful Andrew suggestion)

Venturing outside allowed us to rediscover our attitudes to the building and to try and see how it is perceived by people who don't currently attend the Spires.

Felt pens were used to document ideas through notes, descriptions and drawings.

At the end of the session we brought our ideas together and collated them on a white board, using this as a premise for further discussion about how our ideas might be beneficial to the Spires building and to the community on Arbourthorne estate.

Let's Break In

The new leaflets go down well.

Youth Club + Pens = ???

Whilst not being entirely sure what is meant by it all, there are recurring themes within this manic drawing. Providing the Spires with a more recognisable identity within the community seems to be a key one, what with 'The Spires' blimp and one-eyed monster looming large over the area and the Arbourthorne baranding on the fence.

Vegetable Printing

So with all the pools of paint finally having dried we can bring you a collection of paintings from the children at The Spires Playgroup. Using potato, carrot, pepper, mushrooms and broccoli paint was printed, dotted and smeared on paper creating a vibrant mess of primary colour.

Arbourthorne Community Church

We arrived early and put up some posters up outside on the fence, when we entered the centre we were greeted by friendly faces and a very welcome hot drink, the worship group were practicing and there were children running and playing.

Church service on this Sunday morning dispensed with its proposed start time and informally began once the members of its congregation had filtered through the doors. The band played some upbeat songs of praise and led the members in a time of worship. With the young children going to creche and 'jump church' the congregation were then invited to share in communion. Alistair (church leader) shared the story of David and Goliath and encouraged the assembly with a message of being 'hope carriers' in the community and in life. After the service there was time to chat with the regulars and have another drink and biscuit.