Crafty juniors in good hands

GETTING involved: Chronicle reporter Erin Heywood takes part in arts and crafts activities with Mahdlo members (from left) Callum McCrae, Ben Holmes, Lewis Roberts and Caitlin Stanley

AFTER gaining an insight into the way Mahdlo gets moving, reporter Erin Heywood spent another evening at the youth zone — where 250 excited youngsters ensure there’s not moment’s calm!
WALKING into Mahdlo for the second time, what seemed like dozens of staff members adorned the entrance hall — certainly twice as many as there were when I came on a senior night. Junior nights are the more popular sessions, so extra staff are brought in. And weren’t they needed!

Junior members are in the eight to 12 age range, and once inside they come under the watchful eye of Mahdlo’s volunteers. Parents — who aren’t allowed to enter the building during evening sessions - get a well-deserved rest knowing their children are in good hands.

I was invited to spend the evening doing arts and crafts - something I didn’t exactly excel at in school, but knew would be fun.

When I joined them a group of painters had already set their brushes to the task, adding colour to a life-size cardboard cut-out of a knight and his sword.

A range of colourful masterpieces created by Mahdlo members now hang proudly from the walls, to give the centre even more colour.

I joined volunteer Amina in telling tales of knights and dragons as we completed our regal painting. On the table behind me, a bunch of creative girls was making friendship bracelets and necklaces with different coloured wools.

The great thing about children is that they can have fun with the simplest materials: we all know the jokes about the cardboard box being more interesting than the toy that came in it.

Kids aren’t all ruled by expensive technology or noisy computer games — though of course, they are an option an Mahdlo too.

So while some quietly coloured and drew, others were busy making and decorating paper hats to keep themselves entertained. Coloured paints, glitter and sequins ensured the young designers would leave with hats fit for superstars.

After swapping friendship bracelets with a lovely girl called Georgia, I left the expert volunteers to it and headed home. I’m still not brilliant at art and crafts, but children don’t judge. Good job, really!



Interested in becoming a member at Mahdlo? Call Claire Crossfield on 07507-038 160 or email her at claire.crossfield@mahdloyz.org for more information.


Crafty juniors in good hands


GETTING involved: Chronicle reporter Erin Heywood takes part in arts and crafts activities with Mahdlo members (from left) Callum McCrae, Ben Holmes, Lewis Roberts and Caitlin Stanley


AFTER gaining an insight into the way Mahdlo gets moving, reporter Erin Heywood spent another evening at the youth zone — where 250 excited youngsters ensure there’s not moment’s calm!




WALKING into Mahdlo for the second time, what seemed like dozens of staff members adorned the entrance hall — certainly twice as many as there were when I came on a senior night. Junior nights are the more popular sessions, so extra staff are brought in. And weren’t they needed!



Junior members are in the eight to 12 age range, and once inside they come under the watchful eye of Mahdlo’s volunteers. Parents — who aren’t allowed to enter the building during evening sessions - get a well-deserved rest knowing their children are in good hands.

I was invited to spend the evening doing arts and crafts - something I didn’t exactly excel at in school, but knew would be fun.

When I joined them a group of painters had already set their brushes to the task, adding colour to a life-size cardboard cut-out of a knight and his sword.

A range of colourful masterpieces created by Mahdlo members now hang proudly from the walls, to give the centre even more colour.

I joined volunteer Amina in telling tales of knights and dragons as we completed our regal painting. On the table behind me, a bunch of creative girls was making friendship bracelets and necklaces with different coloured wools.

The great thing about children is that they can have fun with the simplest materials: we all know the jokes about the cardboard box being more interesting than the toy that came in it.

Kids aren’t all ruled by expensive technology or noisy computer games — though of course, they are an option an Mahdlo too.

So while some quietly coloured and drew, others were busy making and decorating paper hats to keep themselves entertained. Coloured paints, glitter and sequins ensured the young designers would leave with hats fit for superstars.

After swapping friendship bracelets with a lovely girl called Georgia, I left the expert volunteers to it and headed home. I’m still not brilliant at art and crafts, but children don’t judge. Good job, really!



Interested in becoming a member at Mahdlo? Call Claire Crossfield on 07507-038 160 or email her at claire.crossfield @mahdloyz.org for more information.



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