‘Kids Can Do It’ at High Chelmer, Chelmsford
High Chelmer in Chelmsford is set to welcome a local youth organisation to the shopping centre this weekend for an uplifting day of performances and talks to help raise awareness of the charity’s mission to empower vulnerable children in and around the city.
Visitors to High Chelmer on Saturday 7 September will be treated to a day of music and dance performances when local talents, who have been supported by Chelmsford-based Kids Inspire, take to the floor from 11am until 4pm.
Elizabeth Bayliss, community engagement officer for Kids Inspire, said: “Kids Can Do it! Is an important opening event to a week we are dedicating to raising awareness of Kids Inspire and its services locally.
“Kids Inspire supports children, young people and their families recovering from trauma or dealing with emerging mental health difficulties across Essex,” Elizabeth commented. “Our community engagement arm is focused on raising awareness and ‘talking about children’s mental health’.
“On Saturday, we are aiming for as much community involvement as possible and will be encouraging shoppers to join in – whether that’s by writing on our graffiti wall, taking part in our open mic, or sharing views on childhood in the vox booth. We can’t wait!”
Among the entertainers at High Chelmer will be local man P. Teddy Sawyer, the MC for the day and host of the Northern Soul show, Route 67. Also attending is Sophie Griffiths, a 17-year-old singer-songwriter, who launched her debut EP at Latitude Festival earlier this summer. She also recently won the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition.
She will be joined by fellow singers Rohan Fletcher and Ollie Jochim, who played Billy Elliot in the West End, and performers from Chelmsford’s JD Dance School will be showing off their moves. There will also be an open mic session, opportunities to engage with the Kids Inspire Voice group, which will be asking people to share their views on childhood, and to sign up to volunteer.
Mick McDonagh, centre manager at High Chelmer, says Saturday will be a great chance for its visitors to learn more about Kids Inspire’s work and see how young people are thriving from its support.
“We are proud to be able to offer a platform where young people from our community can share their hobbies and talents with a wider audience,” Mick explained. “It’s set to be a celebratory occasion, where our visitors are invited to further encourage these wonderful children in all they wish to achieve.
“The charity is an invaluable asset to Chelmsford, and we are very grateful for all it’s doing to prepare the next generations for greatness.”
Kids Inspire, founded in 2007, provides support and opportunities for young people in the community who are at an educational, social or economic disadvantage due to trauma such as abuse, experience of significant loss or emerging mental health difficulties.
The specialist service enables youngsters to take charge of their lives and equip them with new skills, confidence and self-belief in securing a bright and positive future through individual therapy, coaching and mentoring.