Overcoming Barriers with Creativity in Chester (Part 2)
Digital Storyteller Max was joined by Agents Magenta and Lily, young changemakers behind Pop Up Cinema Lache and Study Sphere. Their projects have been funded by The Agency Chester (Storyhouse), who supported them to deliver a pilot of their projects in Lache.
Pop Up Cinema Lache is an opportunity for families to have a fun outdoor cinema experience. Magenta achieved this with a free cinema event, screening movies like ‘Back to the Future’ and presenting creative activities like time capsule, inviting people join as a community and enjoy themselves.
Lily’s Study Sphere is a sociable resource for GCSE students to study in a setting that engages them, all while being provided free materials to help their revision. Lily’s goal was to give young people equal opportunity; to achieve great success in exams and have a chance to excel beyond them.
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Max
We are The Agency of Change, a charity for 15 to 25 year olds that champions creativity for leadership and opportunity. The young people involved are Agents, project creators who want positive change in their communities. We're all over the UK in places like London, Manchester, Southampton, Bolton, Belfast. And in today's podcast, we're covering Chester. I'm Max Wiseman and I chatted with young people in the Lache part of Chester who are really making a difference with their variety of projects.Next up we've got Magenta, creator of Pop Up Cinema Lache, an affordable cinema experience for families in Lache to come together and encourage discussion as a community.
Magenta
Pop Up Cinema Lache, a free cinema experience for families in Lache. I'm like tired of seeing all these families like they've, they want to go to the cinema or like they want to have these nice experiences but like they can't because they're like expensive or they have to like travel really far. So I wanted to create like the space for people so they could have a cinema that's free for families in the local area. I think it's necessary for the community because of how it brings people together. Being at this event right now, like I'm seeing all these people like laughing and like talking to each other.Max
How is it like finding your desire for change in your area?Magenta
I think that it took quite a bit of like thinking for the first time. But then after like I got like an idea like it came quite like naturally to bring families in Lache together.Max
Why did you choose a cinema for your project?Magenta
I was trying to find like an activity that everyone like enjoyed doing together and that's like I don't know Just like something that people like doing, like out going out and like, something that you would usually spend money on but, like, make it free, you know.Max
What has it been like working with the team who's helped you with your project?Magenta
It's been fun. Like, everyone's been really supportive and, like, really helpful with everything and, like, giving me a lot of guidance on how to do the project, which has been really good. I think just like, the effort you put in is going to be the outcome that you, like, get out of it. Like, you need to try hard in order to make something really work and stuff like that.Max
Any memorable takeaways from people in the Lache?Magenta
I think Paula was really nice. She's the head of the Gardening Club. I never knew that the Lache had a Gardening Club, so it was nice, like, meeting her for the first time about the cinema project. I didn't think it was going to reach, like, random people. I'd say that overall it's good. I'm proud of it.Max
We are now going to cap it all off with Lily, creator of Study Sphere, providing resources for young people in Lache to come together and study.Lily
Study Sphere is an environment for young people to come study and whilst not making it boring, I want to give everyone equal opportunity to thrive in the future.Max
When it comes to desire for change in your area, where did that originally come from?Lily
Because I didn't like to see how some areas, the GCSEs were a lot lower and I think that came from people not having the extra money to be spending on resources to revise. Therefore, we made Study Sphere with a bunch of free resources so everyone gets that equal opportunity.Max
What was your original idea for your project and how did it evolve?Lily
It was originally, like, quite calm and not sociable, but we've changed it so students actually want to come and it's more sociable and more relaxed, so less like school.Max
What have the students thought about Study Sphere?Lily
They've said that they're really excited for the prizes to be drawn and, like, that's what motivates them coming here to study.Max
How did you go about spreading the word and recruiting for your project?Lily
Well, we've gone door to some houses, we've gone into schools, we've posted on Instagram and on Facebook, just asking students what they would like to see from the environment. We went to Queen's Park High and Catholic High. It was a bit hard at first, but Mr. Yeoman was really kind and he let it happen very easily. It didn't take a Lot of effort, which was good.Max
How are you feeling about the progress of your project?Lily
I don't think there's enough people. I feel like more people. I would like to come, but in sessions, people are doing, like, what we wanted them to do, socialising with their friends whilst getting work done and eating our free food crisps, pretzels, chocolate squares, bars, like Winders. So I think what they're actually doing is good. We just would like more people coming.Max
Who have you added to your network from your project?Lily
Andrew from Chip’d. We've got in touch with Chester BID, Tenpin, STABILO, CGP for, like, prizes for us and then this lawyer firm. They were just possibly giving, like, a donation of money.Max
Where do you see Study Sphere going in the future after its first cycle?Lily
I hope it just encourages students to study more because we'll be giving out, like, packs that you can take home, so hopefully that will be, like, encouraging. When they're at home, they have the resources to study, so it's not like they've just been cut off.Max
How has your understanding of your community changed since you started your project?Lily
Well, since I've joined, I've noticed that the community is, like, quite tightly knitted together and they're very close with each other and the community helps out with each other. For example, if there's a thing going on at The Larder, maybe Karlie would tell her customers about it. So, yeah, it gets more exposure.Max
What would you do differently for another cycle of your project?Lily
Maybe I'd go more into school for the recruitment, because I think that's the best place and the easiest place.Max
And lastly, how are you feeling today?Lily
I'm in a happy mood today. Some people have come today and they're really focused.Max
I'm Max Wiseman and this has been The Agency of Change. Chester, thank you so much to the Agents who chatted with me about the great work they're putting in. They can use creativity to make communities imaginative, connected and fair. Only if you let them, though.
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