Mayor faces up to colourful school visit

Reporter: Rosalyn Roden
Date published: 14 July 2017


PUPILS with complex and severe learning needs were given the opportunity to get creative when the Mayor of Oldham joined them for an art session.

Splashes of paint found their way to both the paper as well as the friendly face of Oldham's mayor Councillor Shadab Qumer during the event.

The art workshop at Kingfisher Special School followed a Colour Pop gallery day last month which celebrated the children's artwork and helps them explore their creative responses to colour.

Nic Found, director of creative learning, said: "Friends and parents were invited to view the artwork and purchase framed pieces or commission their own piece of work.

"The school was delighted to welcome the Mayor of Oldham and he was so impressed by the children's artwork that he offered to join the children at school and take part in an art session.

"The mayor and the children in the Doves' Class painted and created a piece of bespoke artwork for a Friend of Kingfisher Special School.

"The money for the artwork will be going towards the Big Splash fundraising campaign to help fund a new hydrotherapy pool."

The school's campaign to raise £2.2million for or a hydrotherapy pool was launched in November 2015. It will provide therapeutic benefits for children with conditions such as MS, cerebral palsy and autism.

Anyone who would like to commission a piece of artwork created by Kingfisher pupils should contact Nic on 0161 770 5910.