From Northfield Arts Online Forum
Co-written by Becky Kibbler and Jo Cheadle
Over the past month, Northfield Arts Forum (NAF) has been developing the Facebook group ‘Northfield Arts Online Forum’ as our regular community groups have been temporarily suspended.
Northfield Arts Online Forum (NAF Online) is an online community platform with a weekly programme of activities and resources which reflect NAFs current projects, alongside a few new additions. We have done our best to make sure that there is something online for everyone!
Monday to Saturday, several times per day, NAF Online provides a variety of posts to our members’ Facebook feed. Arts & crafts tutorials are uploaded twice per week, alongside other creative activities such as writing exercises and unique colouring pages.
We also source content covering subjects such as ‘Make-do-and-Mend’, environment and conservation, mindfulness, fitness and specifically ‘male-focused’ subjects relating to NAF’s ‘Men in Sheds.’
On Tuesday mornings, we upload educational content which parents can share with their children and we have a children’s story reading in the afternoon. We encourage people to share their creative work with us, as well as stories and ideas.
Our regular group discussion topics help bring the group together and initiate conversations between people, while our weekly ‘Retro Club’ hopefully provokes fond memories which members may wish to share.
Becky Kibbler (NAF Online coordinator): “As a local artist and facilitator, I have been working with NAF since 2017, and most recently have been engaged as a coordinator on several NAF projects. Myself and Jo have been overseeing this project from the start. It is so important that, in this time of social isolation, we all recognise the importance of being kind to ourselves and looking after our mental health and wellbeing. From the start, NAF Online’s main focus has always been about maintaining a sense of community and reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.”
Jo Cheadle (NAF Online coordinator): ‘I first volunteered with NAF’s Crossing Bridges in 2018 and have more recently been assisting in the running of several groups and events. I think it’s important, particularly in the current climate, to provide a space where people can regularly engage with each other. Whether you are just dropping by for a couple of activities a week, or are checking out and interacting with numerous posts, my biggest hope is that we’re providing people both with something to do and a sense that they’re part of a bigger ‘us.’ I’m proud of what we’ve achieved with this online platform so far and I hope that we’ll only grow from here!”
NAF Online is private and moderated daily to ensure that it is a safe space for people of all ages to enjoy. Coordinators are on hand to respond to any queries or concerns put forward by members, providing advice and regularly join in with activities and group discussions. We are also always open to suggestions regarding content and ways in which the group can be improved!
- If you are interested in joining this page, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/221651592319659/
- If you have any further questions, feel free to email either of us at beckynorthfieldartsforum@gmail.com or jonorthfieldarts@gmail.com.
We hope to see you online!
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