O Chocolat!

What better way to cheer ourselves up on a cold grey Monday morning than with a sneaky peak at the beautiful creations to come out of our "O Chocolat!" event?

Our friends at Sara's Flowers and Tea's played host to our recent chocolate tasting and poetry UPLIFT and what a sweet treat it was! UPLIFTERS were in chocolate heaven as the sumptuous milk and dark delights inspired words and poems.

21 Ways to think about Chocolate

1. 
Sick and guilty, but it doesn’t last long.
After the first bite, those feelings have gone.

2.
Walking in a wood of chocolate trees,
Floating through chocolate leaves.

3.
Jonny Depp covered in chocolate – lick him clean!

4.
Eat it, when you see it.
Dairy Milk, soft as silk.

5.
Jolene  Jolene, I’ve just had some chocolate and I’ve turned green
I wish I‘d never touched that Cadbury’s Flake, Jolene

6.   
It’s a smoky French cafe on a rainy evening
With red wine and candle light

7.
When I think of white chocolate
I think of Beyonce
            
8.
Happy if it’s the right kind, money well spent
on dark chocolate, seventy per cent.
 
9.
Or  even stronger, eighty one per cent,
solid heaven.
 
10.
It makes me happy. Anytime, it’s a blessing.
I’m a driving instructor, and it’s perfect between lessons.
 
11.
When I get to work, with a coffee...
When I get home, with a coffee...
 
12.
Usually fat but happy of heart
I can’t stop eating it when I start.
 
13.
A nice cow eating grass.
 
14.
A dodecahedron.
 
15.
Swimming in a chocolate sea,
Bitter, creamy, heavenly, happy.

16.
I stand and wait for someone to eat
My thick smooth cover,
I lie on the tray for something to happen.
I wait and everyone eats me.
People are my best friend,
And I’m a chocolate treat.

17.
Take a double choc chip muffin, remove the top, push some nice dark chocolate inside, put the lid back on, insert into the microwave for 15 seconds.  If you want, put some cream on. Eat with pleasure.
 
18.
Steal into the pantry at 2 am and get a long-handled spoon, and have a dollop of choc and hazelnut spread and eat in the dark.

19.
Milk chocolate biscuits crumbled onto ice-cream with maple syrup on top.

20.
Digestives and honey layered on top of each other in a sandwich like manner.

21.
I used to eat chocolate when I was sad but I do not do this anymore.

The Great Outdoors

Not to be put off by the turning weather, it's been a cracking couple of weeks of UPLIFTS as we've wrapped up warm and embraced the beautiful outdoors. 

UPLIFTERS got a close up of the nature that inhabits RSPB Old Moor with a photography walk around the beautiful surroundings. With moth chasing, swan seeing and wild flower photography UPLIFTERS enjoyed an afternoon at one with nature.

"Photographing nature, looking closer at detail, viewing things differently."
 

For our next UPLIFT we had to look a little further afield - to the galaxy and beyond! As we took a trip to Hoober Observatory to go Stargazing with the Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society. The knowledge and passion of the astronomers was infectious and the unusual setting made for a unique and adventurous UPLIFT and a new and different experience for all!

"I've never been to a place like this before and didn't even know it existed. It was fascinating!"

"Space is big. So hugely mindbogglingly big that Earth can appear isolated within our Universe. But a visit to the Observatory reminded me that one should not have to feel isolated here on Earth."


Then it was the turn of the Live Arts Café to host their Bonfire Special!  The evening was a mix of  traditional favourites with pie and peas and toffee apples with the some UPLIFT creative flair thrown in for good measure. UPLIFTERS created an installation of light words to decorate the garden and there was seasonal cheer with songs around the bonfire! 
 

 
 

An UPLIFTING Autumn

It’s an Autumn Special on the UPLIFT calendar as all the elements come together in our next three feel good days out!

 

 

First up we return to one of our favourite spots, RSPB Old Moor for AUTUMN LIGHT. Get those Winter Warmers on, and feast on a delicious café lunch before starting out on a photography walk around the beautiful reserve, playing with photography and the Autumn Light.

Friday 24^th October, 11.30am – 3.30pm (Booking Required.)

Join us for a warm beside the fire on Wednesday 5^th November as the Live Arts Café host a Bonfire Special!  We’ll be at our usual spot at the Exchange Recovery College on Gawber Road for fire juggling, campfire singing, a light spectacle and bonfire treats!

Wednesday 5^th November, 5 – 8.30pm

As the dark nights draw in and we get ready for winter, the time is just right for STARGAZING AT THE OBSERVATORY. A visit timed so that the moon is at its optimum, seen through new, high quality equipment. This magical UPLIFT includes a presentation and time to observe the Universe through telescopes, so wrap up warm for an UPLIFT that is ‘out of this world’! 

Saturday 1^st Novmeber, 7.15 – 10.30pm. (Booking Required)

100 for 100!

 

In response to the Cooper Galleries exhibition which shows 100 pictures to mark 100 years of opening, UPLIFT artists took over the cosy cottage space and used print making techniques to create 100 mini multi-media artworks to be swapped and traded!

Part installation, part drop in workshop and creative exchange, UPLIFTERS had a fun and relaxing couple of  days, creating!


 

Doodles of fun at the Museum!

 

Off the back of our UPLIFT Athersley Occupation it's business as usual for our team with lots of UPLIFTS planned all across the borough!

First on the bill was the Alternative Nite Out at the Museum! To mark World Mental Health Day, last Friday night UPLIFTERS embarked on Experience Barnsley for a visit like no other! It was a mixed bag of creative tricks, with an open mic slot filled with musicians from RESOUND and the IMMORTALS. The Museum showcases also got somewhat of a makeover as UPLIFTERS decorated them with doodles!

Thanks to all of you who shared something; be it a song, a doodle/art masterpiece, a poem, a story, a message, a truth. It was an inspiring way to mark World Mental Health Day and sparked ideas for how we can work together in the future to challenge reforms but also ...
what we can do now in our own community to help each other.

If you'd like an UPLIFT, call us on 01226 320100 (ext 104) to register and receive your pack and wallplanner!

FEAST!

What a wonderful week in Athersley we've had. With all sorts of creative goings on, it was a fantastic chance to meet and engage with local people and what a lovely lot we've met. 

With no occupation complete until the main event, the FEAST made for the perfect finale as the community came together for a feast of food and live music in celebration of all we have made.












The stage was wonderfully set with an
umbrella installation made in the various craft sessions. Their seasonal style encouraging us to come together, tuck in and get ready for the winter. The floral table pieces created at Blossom Brunch made for beautiful  decorations and with the feel good music from Paul and Pete and the soul warming grub from our fiends at Peryer Catering our FEAST was complete!

Thank you to everyone who has made our occupation happen and a warm thanks to you Athersley for having us! Here's to the start of your UPLIFTS!

Butties and Blooms!

 

With butties and beautiful blooms the Blossom Brunch certainly lived up to it's name!

On Saturday morning, UPLIFTERS and local Athersley residents got together to create fantastic floral fancies for the evening's FEAST celebrations. This chilled, creative event  saw that old jars, tins and bottles were transformed into delightful decorations for the night ahead, which could then be taken away to uplift some else's day. What a creative bunch! 

Cocoa, Creative Writing & Crafts make for a crowd pleaser!

The Friday instalment of UPLIFT Athersley saw the fun continue with our crafty pop up workshop at the Mansfield Road Community Office. The group were busy bee's finishing off crafty pieces for the FEAST event.

Meanwhile across the road at St Helen's Church Hall, Master chef Matt was back with CHOC-FEST: a chocolate making and creative writing workshop! Local residents turned their hand to making, decorating and best of all tasting delicious chocolate. With truffles, fruit and nut and some chocolate poetry, the hall was packed for this popular event and a fabulous afternoon was had by all! Cocoa-loco! 

Soup and a Song!

What a week we've had in Athersley!

Following Wednesday's trio of UPLIFT's it was then the turn of master chef, Matt, from Peryer Catering to turn up the heat for some culinary creativity!

Joining forces with Romero Communities, they're Thursday  coffee morning was transformed into a soup kitchen with local residents chopping fresh vegetables from the local Grocer! UPLIFT singing sensation, Paul Newman provided the acoustics and a big pot of hearty soup was made.

Off into the streets we went to talk to locals over a belly full of soup and give away vegetable packs with creative recipe ideas to make your own broth!

Big thanks to the Peryers, our UPLIFT kitchen hands and everyone who got involved, you are true soup - astars! 

 
 
 

A Trio of UPLIFTS!

It was an action packed day of UPLIFTS in Athersley today with back to back creative activities for local residents.

Starting at St Edwin’s Croft we shared a Cuppa Creative with lots of lovely locals whilst enjoying the music of singing storyteller, Paul Newman. We were busy making UPLIFT parcels to give away and brighten someone’s day!

Uplift artist Cecile then joined in the fun and a crafty afternoon was spent making beautiful table decorations with the Athersley Cares Craft Group and members of the community, all in preparation for our big community event, FEAST!

There was no sign of slowing down as the LIVE ARTS CAFÉ this evening goes on tour to the New Hope Methodist Church in Athersley! Café goers are in for a treat with the Latin rhythms of Los Paisos and Spin art with Umbrellas!

 

And if you’re not tired after that lot, we’ll be back with more UPLIFTING action tomorrow as we take soup and song to the streets of Athersley!

Be our Guest at the UPLIFT Occupation!

Following last week's coffee morning and crafty afternoon, we're back in Athersley this week with creativity in abundance!

There's a mouth watering selection of activities on offer and we hope to wet your appetite with a few of the following.

Begin with a CUPPA CREATIVE, throw into the mix an Athersley special LIVE ARTS CAFE, and add a sprinkle of CRAFTY UPLIFT POP UP'S. Stir in a SOUP AND A SONG and blend with CHOC-FEST, finally season with a BLOSSOM BRUNCH and there you have yourself one great FEAST to enjoy with friends and make nice memories!

The UPLIFT team welcome you to be our guest; dine out at the UPLIFT table, all activities are free, so come and get involved!

For more information call 01226 320100 (ext 104)

Feast your eyes on this!

 

Following our takeover of Goldthorpe earlier in the year, we're back with another occupation and this time we're coming to Athersley!

 

Working with local organisations including Romero Communities, Athersley Cares and others, we'll be out and about in the Athersley area  for a week of UPLIFTING events culminating in our big community event "Feast" on Saturday 4th October 2014: Save the date!

 

From Thursday 25th September you'll catch our travelling troupe doing the rounds of local coffee mornings, bringing live music and UPLIFT parcel making to residents of the area. The team will be out on the streets with delicious homemade soup to giveaway as well as workshops including creative writing and chocolate making! Have a peak at our full line up below and come and get involved!

 

Don't miss the main event "Feast" on Saturday 4th October which in signature style will feature live music, arts & crafts, and soul warming food! This is an open event for the community to get together, try something new and make some memories. Please note, booking is essential.

 

Call us on 01226 320100 (ext 104) to book your place at the Feast, book early to avoid disappointment.

 

 

Cake and a Chinwag at Athersley Gala!

 

Setting out our stall at Athersley Gala, we talked to lots of lovely locals about our upcoming occupation of the area.

Over cake and a chinwag we introduced the UPLIFT project and sought to gather the views of what local residents would like to see in the area and engage with during our takeover and beyond.

Here's a few snapshots from our delightful day out!

We're Coming to Athersley!

Following our takeover of Goldthorpe earlier this year, we're out and about in Athersley in preparation for our next UPLIFT Occupation!

This Autumn/Winter sees us hitting Athersley for a week of UPLIFTING events culminating in our big event on 4th October 2014: Save the date!

Catch us in the area in the run up to our takeover as we look to meet members of the community and local groups and organisations. We'll be at Laithes Lane Gala this week so look out for Hayley and Gemma who are armed with cakes, ready to have a natter!

If you want to help others feel good and have fun, get in touch!
 
We are looking for people with energy, ideas and good ol’ community spirit to tell us what people in the area want and help us make things happen!

 

 

Music, movement, merry making and mooching - all in a day's work as we wallow on the Wetlands!

What a finale to an action packed UPLIFT calendar!

We celebrated our last event of the current calendar in true UPLIFT style, revisiting one of our favourite spots, the RSPB Old Moor for music, drawing, relaxation and feasting!

Our day on the Wetlands began with a spot of Tai Chi on the lawn, whilst others preferred to walk around the lush surroundings, sketching the wildlife and the environment it inhabits. We chilled on into the evening, feasting amongst friends over a picnic to the Latin sounds of our talented friends Armando!

Thanks to everyone who has joined us for an UPLIFT, we hoped you’ve enjoyed them as much as we have!

We’re currently beavering away planning more special days out for the next UPLIFT calendar. If this sounds like your cup of tea, call us on 01226 320100 (ext 104) to find out more about the programme, you can also complete a referral form by phone and start booking your memorable days for you and your family!

A Bug's Life at Camp!

The rain may have poured but it didn’t dampen our spirits on last weekend’s Worsbrough Mill ‘Bug Off’Camp!

 

 

It was a jam packed weekend which began with a steady walk around the calming reservoir.  Then as we delved further into the camping spirit we became at one with nature learning all about the bugs we were to be sharing camp with, with our resident bug expert!

Linking up with the International Spore Project we became part of one of the largest art installations in the world by making mushrooms out of sticks and paper bags! Our funghi creations helped put Barnsley on the Spore map as we showed support for creativity and art education! www.dougrhodehamel.com

 

More bug related crafts came in the form of our Bee’s which we created from pine cones! Not only fun to make, this prompted the conversation of the importance of our black and yellow friends as they continue to decrease in numbers and to think about how our survival is dependent on theirs.

After a bug filled day, the evening gave us all chance to unwind by the fire for a magical evening of singing and stories beneath the stars. Relaxing by the fireside, our cockles were well and truly warmed in good company!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t miss the last UPLIFT event in the current calendar, join us for ‘Wetlands Wollow’, tomorrow at  RSPB Old Moor!