#PlayAtHome

Whilst we were unable to deliver sessions in person, owing to Covid 19 and the resulting lockdown, all three of MotherShip’s projects were delivered online.

An initial pilot, generously supported by funding from Quinton Methodist Church, over Facebook Live, prepared for the delivery of all three projects over Zoom. We record every session and upload them to private Facebook groups for each of the projects where participants can access them after the session, to make it accessible at any time and on a variety of platforms. Active WhatsApp groups support the befriending aspect of each project. 

PLAYgroup was still co-delivered and cross-artform, in music, movement and visual arts, with the two artists planning and delivering together over Zoom from their separate homes. We went on many adventures during lockdown and really utilised this time to focus on the themes and activities being as child-led as possible, following where the children’s imaginations took us. ESOL was supported with the ESOL practitioner providing accompanying resources for each of our sessions. Zoom sessions were supported by creative videos by Naomi our Childcare practitioner, offering creative activity ideas on the themes of the sessions for families to try in their own time at home.

For Inclusive PLAYdays we were also led thematically by our imaginations, encouraging the children to create imaginary worlds whilst they were less able to explore the real one. These sessions were delivered by one artist at a time, in music and dance alternately, and were supported by Makaton and widget symbols to aid communication. In response to the difficulty of some children with additional needs accessing virtual sessions, we also offered 1:1 sessions over Zoom for individual participants to have the opportunity to engage directly with our artists and for the content to be specifically gauged to their needs and interests.

As well as continuing to learn new skills, embroidery, pattern-making, fabric dyeing and paper crafts, our MARKit sessions also focussed on the women’s wellbeing. There were sessions in pilates, movement and musical mindfulness integrated into the programme. The women really began to hone their skills at home and a number of them joined with a local collective, Smethwick Craftivistas, to share skills and find inspiration in one another’s work and ideas. During the first lockdown, our co-creche lead Naomi continued to provide creative play inspiration for the mothers to use at home with their children and an ESOL Practitioner supported ESOL learning and ensuring all sessions are fully accessible for participants. 

#PlayAtHome is funded by:
Arts Council England
Creative Black Country
SMBC
Civic Square's Dream Fund
SCVO

You can read the full #PlayAtHome report, illustrated by Ekhlass Ibrahim, here