IN BRIEF
SIX WIRRAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS TRAVELLED MORE THAN 10K MILES AND RAISED OVER £ 4000 FOR TWO LOCAL CHARITIES
SUNLIGHT SOAP INSPIRES NEW INSTALLATION AT PORT SUNLIGHT
The sponsorship forms are in , the pedometers have been synced and the cash has been counted by a primary school Academy Trust on the Wirral , which organised an entire month of increased physical activity in May to get its pupils , staff and school communities across six schools , active once more .
People who participated in Oak Trees Multi Academy Trust ’ s May Mile , developed by CEO Tony Lacey , travelled an impressive 10k miles doing activities including increased walking and cycling to school ( and leaving the car ), family swimming , athletics , football , rugby , hockey , sports days , hiking and more .
Tony Lacey was concerned about the health and wellbeing of his staff and pupils following more than a year locked down due to decreased physical activity levels and limited access to community sports and recreation facilities due to social distancing , so decided to take action .
The initiative ran during May at all six primary schools in the Trust including Brackenwood Juniors , Church Drive Primary , Egremont , Great Meols , Poulton Lancelyn and Stanton Road . Egremont Primary in Wallasey has even extended its campaign across June and into July due to its popularity by all involved .
2200 pupils , 300 staff and 50 Governors and trustees pledged to do more everyday physical activities as well as trying new things . Overall , an estimated 3000 people including teachers , pupils and their families , friends , carers , Trustees and people in the local communities took part in the challenge , improved their fitness levels and raised thousands for two Wirral charities .
One school in Wallasey even went out into a local shopping centre to engage the community . Egremont Primary took the Taylor Shaw caterers ‘ smoothie bike ’ to The Cherry Tree Centre and local shoppers donated money to the non-stop cyclists who pedalled away to get fit and raise much needed funds .
The children voted for Claire House and Wirral Food Banks to be the worthy recipients of funds raised . Claire House was selected due to its ongoing vital work for sick children and their families and Wirral Food Bank because the organisation has helped so many people across the region by providing food and groceries during the hardest year of most people ’ s lives .
A new , large-scale art installation inspired by the iconic Sunlight soap packaging will be unveiled at Port Sunlight village in the Wirral this summer .
Created by artist Tod Hanson , Box Room combines graphics inspired by the world ’ s first packaged and branded laundry soap with references to the architectural features of the village and the industrial heritage of Lever Brothers famous soap factory .
“ When it was first produced , more than 100 years ago , the red , yellow and blue of Sunlight ’ s packaging was loud and modern , crashing into people ’ s homes , shops and high streets ,” said Tod Hanson . “ It still has that visual power today , I wanted to play with an iconic graphic and make it reveal something of the factory village behind it .”
Box Room will be on show inside Port Sunlight ’ s church hall , which was once part of the MacFisheries shops complex in the village and thought to be used as a bakery . The outside of the 18 foot long box installation amplifies graphic elements from the Sunlight packaging , while inside is a room which fuses the functional design of a factory space with a decorative domestic interior .
Port Sunlight was founded in 1888 by William Lever to house the workers at his soap factory . More than 900 Grade II listed buildings are set in 130 acres of parkland and gardens and nearly every period of British architecture can be seen in the design of the houses and monuments , which were created by more than 30 different architects . Sunlight soap was first produced in 1884 and gave its name to Port Sunlight village which , as well as the workers ’ houses , had allotments , a cottage hospital , schools , a concert hall , an open air swimming pool and the Lady Lever Art Gallery . Today , the houses are either privately owned or rented by the Port Sunlight Village Trust , and the Port Sunlight Museum tells the story of the Lever brothers and the creation of the village .
Kath Lynch , Director of Heritage at Port Sunlight Village Trust , said : “ Tod ’ s installation is totally different from anything that ’ s been on show at Port Sunlight before , but it still perfectly reflects the village , its landscape and history . It ’ s bright , colourful and bold and it shows Port Sunlight as seen through Tod ’ s eyes – I think it will really challenge people ’ s perceptions about Port Sunlight and will give people a new perspective on the village and its story .”
Admission to Box Room is free and tickets can be booked online at https :// tickets . portsunlightvillage . com . Visit www . portsunlightvillage . com for more details .
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