🎭✨ Another amazing week at our Carnival Costume Mentoring Programme ✨🎭
We are delighted to share that we have successfully delivered our third workshop and what an inspiring and creative session it was 🌈🎨🪡
This week our emerging artists focused on completing their costume designs before moving onto pattern making, measuring and cutting templates ✂️📏🧵 The room was filled with creativity, excitement and teamwork as participants supported one another and brought their ideas to life together ❤️
It has been incredible to see confidence growing each week through problem solving, asking questions, sharing ideas and mentoring one another 💫 It truly feels like one big carnival family 🎶
Our young creatives in the creche space were also buzzing with excitement while enjoying carnival themed arts and crafts activities 👑🎨✨ helping us keep the programme accessible and welcoming for families.
One of the highlights of the session was the group coming together to vote for the song they will perform to at Barking & Dagenham Carnival on 11 July 🎶🥁💃
A huge thank you to the incredible staff at Barking Learning Centre for all of your continued support and for providing such a welcoming and inspiring creative space 💛👏
Here are just a few reflections from participants ✨
💬 “My day was awesome, I got to do 1000 stuff that was fun.”
💬 “This was amazing because I love the art templates and costumes.”
💬 “Today was totally amazing. Drawing, tracing and cutting templates. I feel like a real designer.”
💬 “Another great workshop, great use of time, resources and our creative spaces in our minds. This year feels more dedicated and ultimately collectively achieved. Here’s tomorrow’s Birds of Paradise.”
🌈 What colours would inspire your dream carnival costume? Let us know in the comments 👇✨
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England through the National Lottery 🎟️
#BarkingAndDagenhamCarnival #LetsCreate #CommunityCreativity #CreativeLearning #CarnivalCulture CostumeDesign EmergingArtists MentalHealthMatters HealthAndWellbeing EmployabilitySkills BirdsOfParadise InclusiveArts
🎵🥁 Our second Steel Pan Session with Ab Phab Youth Club was another truly wonderful experience and a fantastic opportunity to see everyone continue to grow and develop through music 🌟✨
Delivering the sessions in smaller groups worked incredibly well, allowing us to support each young person individually and ensure everyone had the opportunity to take part, build confidence and progress at their own pace 🤝💙 It was amazing to see every participant fully engaged, having a fabulous time and enjoying every moment while learning new skills together 😄🎶
Throughout the session, the young people developed important social skills through teamwork and communication 👥💬,
strengthened mental health and wellbeing through creativity and positive experiences 🧠💚🌈, and improved physical health through movement, coordination and active participation 💃🕺
⭐ The workshops also supported valuable employability skills including confidence, listening, focus, resilience, cooperation and following instructions 📚👏
It was wonderful to see confidence continue to grow as everyone explored rhythm, creativity and teamwork through steel pan music in such a positive and supportive environment 🎼✨
The smiles, enthusiasm and energy throughout the session showed just how much everyone enjoyed the experience 😍🎉
A huge thank you to the brilliant team at AB Phab 💙 and well done to all of the amazing young people who took part 🌟
A very special and huge thank you also to the Steel Pan Agency for collaborating with us to deliver this fantastic session 🥁🎶✨ Your energy, expertise and engaging delivery helped create such a positive, enjoyable and inspiring experience for everyone involved 🙌💛
We cannot wait for the next session 🥁🎵🎉
Supported through The National Lottery through Arts Council England 🎉
#steelpan #CultureAndDiversity #community #youngpeople #creativity musicmatters Wellbeing abphab letscreate BarkingAndDagenhamCarnival healthandwelbeing mentalhealth CreativeWellness
🎶🥁 What an incredible celebration of culture, creativity and community today! 💛✨
We were absolutely delighted to deliver our very first Steel Pan Session with our senior citizens, and what a fantastic experience it was for everyone involved! 🌟
The session brought so much joy, laughter and positive energy while introducing participants to the beautiful sounds of the steel pan. Not only was it a wonderful musical experience, but it also supported health and wellbeing, encouraged togetherness and celebrated cultural expression within our community. 🎵🌍💃
Here are just a few of the lovely comments shared with us:
💬 “A wonderful music session. Thoroughly enjoyed playing the steel pan. It was nice to be in harmony with the other players. Would do it again.”
💬 “Absolutely marvellous. I enjoyed every moment.”
Steel pan music supports concentration, numeracy, literacy, physical wellbeing and mental health, while bringing happiness and connection to everyone involved. 🌈✨
Even more inspiring is the history behind the steel pan itself, one of the few modern instruments created through recycling and sustainability, making it a powerful symbol of creativity, resilience and environmental awareness. ♻️🥁
A massive well done to all of the amazing young seniors who took part today 👏💛 and a huge thank you to the incredible Rosa Nosa Foundation staff for their hard work and dedication in planning such a fantastic event.
Special thanks also to the Steel Pan Trust, for delivering such engaging workshops, providing uplifting music during the breaks and getting everyone involved in creative movement and dance! 🎶🕺💃
This wonderful project was made possible thanks to the support from The National Lottery through Arts Council England. 🎉🙏
Take a look at some of the pictures from this joyful and unforgettable day! 📸✨
#letscreate #healthandwellbeing #steelpan #creativecommunity #BarkingAndDagenhamCarnival numeracy literacy mentalhealth
creativemomory EmployabilitySkills
🎭✨ We are delighted to share that we have successfully delivered the second workshop of our Carnival Costume Mentoring Programme, and what an inspiring session it was! ✨🎨
The room was filled with energy, excitement and creativity from the very beginning as participants arrived ready to learn, explore and bring their ideas to life 🌟
During this workshop, everyone had the opportunity to confirm the colour themes and creative direction for their costumes while developing a deeper understanding of the key elements that make up a carnival costume. From structure and design to colour coordination and visual storytelling, participants began shaping their own unique creations with confidence and imagination 💃🏾🪡🎨
The session also explored the rich language and traditions of carnival culture, helping participants understand key terms and meanings associated with carnival heritage. Together we discussed the meaning of “Mas” in its different forms, including Playing Mas, Making Mas and the importance of the Mas Camp within carnival communities 🎭🔥
We are also proud to provide a creche space alongside the programme to help ensure accessibility for all families. While participants take part in the mentoring sessions, younger children can enjoy carnival-themed arts and crafts activities in a safe and creative environment 🎨👧🏾🧒🏽✨
We loved seeing their wonderful creations and will be sharing some photos of their artwork too 📸❤️
It has been incredible to see ideas developing, creativity growing, and confidence building with every session. The passion and enthusiasm in the room truly reflected the spirit of carnival culture, learning and community ❤️💛💚
Here are some photos from the workshop along with a few reflections shared by participants about their experience 📸✨
What colours would inspire your dream carnival costume? Let us know in the comments 👇🏾🎭
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
#MentorshipMatters #physicalfitness #CarnivalWorkshops #EmployabilitySkills #ConfidenceThroughCreativity
🎶🌍 What an incredible celebration of culture, creativity and community! 🌍🎶
We were absolutely delighted to deliver our Steel Pan Workshops with AB Phab as part of their inspiring Culture and Diversity Day. The energy throughout the day was truly amazing, with young people taking part in a wide range of exciting activities including lantern making, self-defence, flag making and henna workshops. ✨
The Steel Pan Workshop was a huge highlight, with every young person getting involved, learning new skills and having so much fun along the way. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they explored rhythm, teamwork and creativity through music. 🥁🎵
Steel pan music supports concentration, numeracy, literacy, physical wellbeing and mental health, while also bringing happiness, joy and positive energy to everyone involved. Even more inspiring is the history behind the steel pan itself, one of the few modern instruments created through recycling and sustainability, making it a powerful symbol of creativity, resilience and environmental awareness. ♻️🌱
A massive well done to all of the amazing young people who took part, and a huge thank you to the incredible AB Phab staff for all of their hard work and dedication in planning such a fantastic event. 👏
Special thanks also to the Steel Pan Agency for delivering such engaging workshops, providing uplifting background music during the breaks and getting everyone involved in creative movement and dance. 💃🏾🕺🏽
This project was made possible thanks to support from The National Lottery through Arts Council England. 🎨🎟️
#steelpan #CultureAndDiversity #community #youngpeople #creativity musicmatters aceagrams wellbeing sustainability abphab letscreate BarkingAndDagenhamCarnival @abphabyc
We were delighted to welcome everyone to our UKON Careers Project Launch and to celebrate the start of this exciting journey together 🎉✨
A special thank you to Zoinul Abidin for joining us to officially open the project. We are truly grateful for his continued support and guidance over the years, and for taking the time to share this important moment with us 🙏
It was fantastic to see so many people getting involved and enjoying the experience. From steel pan 🥁 and dance 💃 to carnival crafts 🎨, including flag making, mask making and headdress design, the energy in the room truly captured the spirit of carnival 🌈
Our carnival exhibition was very positively received, and it was wonderful to share more about the events, workshops and activities coming up as part of the Carnival Arts Project, including the Carnival Launch Party, The Carnival Costume Mentoring Programme and Barking and Dagenham Carnival 🎭
#johnsmithhouse #YouthHealthAmbassadors #carnivalarts #ProjectLaunch #healthandwellness resilance CommunitySpirit BarkingAndDagenhamCarnival letscreate
Thank you to everyone who attended and made the day so special. We look forward to welcoming you to future activities and celebrations 🎊
Funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England 🎟️
We were delighted to host our first Senior Citizens Creative Carnival Arts Workshop 🎨✨, focusing on creative flag making and storytelling.
This special session also introduced our programme for the year ahead and confirmed the activities we will deliver, including their involvement in the Barking and Dagenham Carnival 🎭.
It was wonderful to see such strong interest from participants, not only in the carnival but also in upcoming steel pan 🥁 and creative sash sessions.
The session was extremely positive, engaging, and full of creativity 🌈. Participants, aged from 68 to 90 years young, created beautiful and meaningful flags 🚩 that will be proudly displayed at the carnival.
Each flag carried a unique story, with participants sharing personal reflections, memories, and inspirations behind their designs 💬.
The activity supported mental and physical well being 💚, creativity, resilience, and community spirit 🤝.
It also provided a valuable opportunity for participants to share their ideas and feelings with one another.
It was a truly enjoyable and rewarding experience for everyone involved 😊.
We are incredibly excited to continue this journey with such an inspiring group 🌟.
With thanks to National Lottery funding through Arts Council England 🎟️ for supporting this work.
@RosaNosaFoundation
#seniorcitizens #letscreate #creativeart #CommunityWellbeing #HealthyAgeing Storytelling artsforhealth CreativeExpression barkinganddagenham carnivalarts CommunitySpirit ActiveAging
Bookings are now LIVE! ✨
Provider and market stall bookings are now open for Disability Festival in the Park 2026 💛
📅 Wednesday 22 July 2026
⏰ 12pm – 7pm
📍 Christchurch Green, Wanstead
🎪 Fees:
• £75 - Providers
• £90 - Market stall holders
👉 Book now via the link or scan the QR code:
/booking-form (link in bio)
Please like, share, and tag anyone who might be interested. 💛
#DisabilityFestival #InclusiveEvents #CommunityFestival #Wanstead #BookingsNowOpen
🎉 Join us for the UKON Careers Project Launch Event and be part of an exciting celebration to mark the start of the project.
🤝 Delivered in partnership with a range of valued partners and stakeholders, this event will bring people together to share the vision, introduce what is to come, and give you a real taste of what UKON Careers has to offer, including our carnival costume programme.
🎭 Enjoy a mini carnival costume exhibition and get involved in interactive steelpan 🥁, dance 💃 and carnival craft workshops 🎨.
✨ This is a great opportunity to experience the energy of carnival, meet the team and our partners, and learn more about upcoming activities and events, including Barking and Dagenham Carnival.
🙌 Come along, get involved, and start your journey with us.
#letscreate #creativehealth
#healthandwellbeing #communityprojects CreativeCareers barkinganddagenham CarnivalCulture mentalhealthmatters CommunityCelebration volunteeringmatters
Barkinganddagenhamcarnival
@john_smith_house
Launching BDYD’s first Directory. Thank you @mayorsfundforlondon for supporting us to map the Creative Spaces in Barking and Dagenham, focusing on spaces where young people feel welcome ➡️
•
Our Directory is youth-led and is completely maintained by our Youth Consultants.
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Link via bdyd.uk Support us and if your local Creative space is missing from our list please get in contact so we can add you 🔗
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#bdyd #youth #dancecommunity #dance #movementmatters
🎉 Save the Date - Barking and Dagenham Carnival 🎉
Barking and Dagenham Carnival is back 🎭 and it is set to be bigger and better than ever!
Join us for a vibrant celebration for the whole community 🌍 bringing together people of all ages 👨👩👧👦 for a day full of colour 🎨 creativity 🎶 music and joy ✨ Best of all, it is completely free 🙌
We are excited to share more details with you very soon, but for now, please save the date 📅 and spread the word 📣
We cannot wait to celebrate with you all 💛
#savethedate #BarkingAndDagenhamCarnival #ukoncareers #CommunityCelebration #healthandwellness carnival
We’ve been quietly planning behind the scenes… and today we’re thrilled to finally share the official flyer and date for this year’s Disability Festival in the Park.
📅 Wednesday 22 July 2026
⏰ 12pm – 7pm
📍 Christchurch Green, Wanstead, E11 2RH
💜 FREE ENTRY
Get ready for a full day of joy, creativity, and community spirit, featuring:
🎶 Stage & music performers
🎨 Creative arts
☕ A vintage tea room courtesy of Uniting Friends
🏅 Accessible sports
😂 Comedy
🎧 DJ sets from Dirty Stop Outs
🍔 Food & drink
🎡 Fun fair
ℹ️ Information Village
… and loads more still to come!
This festival is all about celebrating disability culture, championing inclusion, and bringing people together in the heart of Wanstead. Whether you’re joining for the entertainment, the atmosphere, or the chance to connect - you’re part of something special.
👉 Follow this page for performer announcements, accessibility updates, behind‑the‑scenes sneak peeks, and everything we’ll be rolling out between now and July.
For more information:
📞 07944 119 899
📧 [email protected]
We can’t wait to welcome you back to the park.
#disabilityfestival #redbridge #community #festivalinthepark #wanstead
