Funding given to help organisation celebrate its 10th year anniversary

Posted on: Wednesday, November 22, 2023

A local support organisation has celebrated its 10th birthday with help from Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Arts Development funding was given to Sam’s Workplace, an organisation based in Rainworth which offers mentoring and life skill opportunities to young adults with learning support needs.

The funding was used to provide creative art sessions with artist Michelle Reader. During these, groups of service users rolled up their sleeves and got involved to create a fantastic 10 year commemorative plaque, tying into their chosen theme of tin, traditional for a 10th anniversary.

The organisation also used some of the funding to secure a performer for their celebration event.

Councillor Rowan Cozens, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “I‘m really happy that we were able to provide this funding to help a great organisation celebrate such a fantastic milestone in an artistic way!

“I would like to thank everyone at Sam’s Workplace for their continuous hard work and dedication, offering vital support to people in our community.”

The team at Sam’s Workplace said: “We were delighted by the fabulous support from Newark and Sherwood District Council for our 10 year anniversary here at Sam's Workplace and to Michelle Reader for her hard work with our adults with learning disabilities to produce our fantastic 10 year plaque which is on display in our community cafe in Rainworth.”

“We thoroughly enjoyed the celebration day with artwork from our adults on display as well as a raffle, face painting, free food and Sparky the Robot was a massive hit."

Artist, Michelle Reader said: “I had a lovely time getting to know everyone at Sam’s Workplace during the design and making of the plaque. The design was developed by the group, with five bands of the rainbow representing five aspects of Sam's workplace - garden, animals, shop, workshop, and office.”

“The ten year anniversary is tin, so we used a lot of metallic materials within the plaque and the stars that hang above it. It is mostly made from recycled materials such as drink cans, foil pie tins and keys from an old keyboard.”

To find out more about Sam’s Workplace, please visit their website -www.samsworkplace.co.uk