It’s been a busy start to the Helios visit to Grimsby Minster. The VANEL Green Influencers teams (and their volunteers) have been busy with the “Our Caring Sun” part of the exhibition which has now come to an end. But Helios is still in place at the Minster until 4th May, so why not take a chance to see it whilst it’s still there.
Lots of specific Helios related activities this weekend too – visit the website to check out the programme and book a place:
https://ourfuturestartshere.co.uk/whats-on/
There’s so much been going on, take a look back through the Facebook posts from Green Influencers for photos and news from the Our Caring Sun exhibition as well as a chance to see what all the GI groups are doing at the moment:
https://www.facebook.com/GreenInfluencersVANEL
In particular there’s a huge summary and thank you article from Sam about the “Our Caring Sun” time at the Minster – read it here (or below). Just a few photos below from Grant Visuals (thanks Alex). But so many more images on Facebook.
Thank you
That post in full from Sam following the conclusion of “Our Caring Sun”, saying thank you to all involved:
THANK YOU – Our Caring Sun Campaign
Wow… what an incredible journey this has been
From the very beginning, Our Caring Sun Campaign has been built on one simple but powerful idea — that when people care, things grow and change happens. And over the past weeks, you have shown us just how much care exists across our communities.
Children, young people, families, partners, volunteers and supporters have all come together — creating, sharing, voting, talking and leaving their mark. Every postcard, every sculpture, every vote and every conversation has mattered.
It truly means so much to see so many people not only wanting to take part — but showing real, genuine CARE for our world and our future.
Your voices are shaping what comes next.
We will be counting all of the Care Action Votes after our final events and will announce Green Influencers VANEL’s next Care Action Campaign Theme for the year ahead… and we can’t wait to share it with you 🌱
With heartfelt thanks to everyone involved:
The National Lottery Community Fund and National Lottery players
– for making this work possible through their funding and belief in community-led change
The CultureHouse Team – Charlotte Bowen and Becky Darnell
– for bringing Helios to North East Lincolnshire and creating this incredible opportunity for our communities to take part
Franklin NEWT (Nature, Environment & Wildlife Team) – Alfie, Preston, Reece, Ella & Chloe
– for leading powerful Renewable Energy and Wildlife Campaigns and using their voices to inspire others as part of their volunteering role at the events
Franklin Sixth Form College – Emma Swinburn & Jazz White (Franklin Staff Leads)
– for their dedication, support and for helping bring everything together in such a short timeframe
Little GreenInfluencers VANEL groups & Littlecoates Primary Academy
– for voting for their Care Action themes, and for their creative mark-making and stencilled artwork that helped shape the Our Caring Sun installation
Reynolds, Nunsthorpe, Central, East Marsh, Queensway, West Marsh & Immingham Family Hubs
– for welcoming families, hosting sessions and supporting Little Green Influencers VANEL Weekly Gardening & Craft Group participation across communities
Grimsby Minster & Café Team
– for hosting us so warmly and supporting the delivery of the Helios event and our activities
Hammond House Productions Team – Ted, Jessie, Paul and Lauren
– for capturing our journey on film, helping to share it more widely, inspiring other children and young people to create their own Care Action movements, and for supporting a special presentation and award moment under the Sun for the Franklin NEWT group – making life long memories and proud families
Young Presenter – Ava
– for stepping in to do the filming 🎥 to help to explain Our Caring Sun Campaign as part of Our journey film. You were amazing, a shining star 🌟 Many thanks for all your help
Grant’s Visuals – Alex Grant
– for capturing powerful, professional images of the Helios event and Our Caring Sun Campaign, documenting real moments, connections and our shared journey to help tell the story of care in action
DK Building & Joinery – Darren Kirk
– for helping to design and build the Our Caring Sun installation, turning a shared idea into something real
Bizzie Fingers Sewing Group – The Crescent Community Hub (Kim Hotham, Lorraine Bott, Nicola Ebbs & Penny)
– for sharing preloved fabric and carefully creating the rain frame strips that helped bring our voting to life. Plus, for carefully counting and sorting all of the rain frame strips into manageable bundles, supporting the voting process
The RED SHED Group at the Big Local North Cleethorpes – Chloe, Pete & Dave
– for sharing their space with us and for adding their creativity, practical support which helped to shape key elements of the installation, especially in the final hours
Danielle Taylor – Refresh Mind and Body Wellbeing (Author of Sally the Seagull)
– for sharing her story and supporting meaningful, engaging Storytime experiences for families
Lorraine Bott – Storytime Reading
– for her warmth and support in bringing our Sun Storytime sessions to life (especially as I had lost my voice)
University of Hull
– for supporting learning, partnership and progression opportunities
Families First
– for sharing our social media events supporting families to engage, connect and take part and for donations of books for the Our Caring Sun Discovery Trail
Liam’s Little Wonders- Independent Usborne Partner
– for supporting our Little Green Influencers groups to take part in the shared ‘Ready Steady Read’ sponsored reading event (raising over £500 for books through sponsorship and donated books). The funds and donated books were used as part of the Our Caring Sun Discovery Book Trail (FREE children’s book upon completion), which was opened by Ruth during our first event (Green Influencers Group Member at Littlecoates Primary Academy)
Littlecoates Primary Academy Green Influencers After School Group
– for creating and designing the Our Caring Sun Discovery Trail. The families really enjoy taking part at the Helios event. You did a great job. Many thanks 😊
Volunteer Grimsby & NEL
– for supporting our volunteering Franklin placements, community connection and local action
North East Lincolnshire Council
– for supporting community-focused initiatives
All partner organisations supporting Our Future Starts Here (Green InfluencersVANEL, TheCultureHouse, FranklinSixthFormCollege, Hammond House and Hull University)
– for working together to build something bigger than any one organisation alone
What If We Create CIC – Wendy Lucy & Amethyst
– for taking part in the Artist in Residence programme and for sharing the Lenzing TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres used with us so that we could create Our Care Cloud Installation
Green Support Worker – Sophie Roberts
– for her amazing weaving skills, resilience and unbelievable hard work to craft Our Care Cloud. Each and everyday you inspire us all with your ideas and energy towards all that we do to make a positive difference ✨️
Lenzing Grimsby
– for producing sustainable TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres locally from wood-based materials, supporting environmentally responsible creativity
Grimsby Creates – CreateNEL
– for supporting and enabling the Artist in Residence programme, bringing together creativity, community and sustainable materials
Waltham Tollbar Students – Maisie & Amina (AKA My daughter and her friend)
– for giving up their bank holiday weekend to add the final finishing touches to the installation
Our amazing Green Influencers & VANEL Team (Paula, Richard, Karl, Liz, Sophie, Fumiko, Rob & Pete)
– for their passion, care and commitment to making this work happen every day
…and most importantly…
ALL of the families, children and young people who have taken part, shared their voices, cast their votes and shown us that our world is in safe hands with so many caring people.
We will be counting all Care Action Votes and will soon announce the Green Influencers VANEL’s next Care Action Campaign Theme…
Thank you for being part of something so special
Very many warmest regards
Sam Smith – Green Mentor
What we care for today shapes tomorrow….
Let’s create a greener future together!
See the full programme & book your visit:
ourfuturestartshere.co.uk/whats-on
Supported and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund
Working in partnership as part of Our Future Starts Here
