The Lego Club that has become a fixture at Burnage Library and Levenshulme Market. Since 2016 they have provided a space for families and people of all ages to meet up, create and socialise. And, since we have gone into lockdown their Facebook page has been updated with activities you can get involved in now.
What is Lego club?
The club was established in 2016 with the intention that it would give families something to do over the holidays. The club runs solely on donations and Burnage Library where the club is hosted is volunteer led too. This means that the club has a pay what you can donation scheme, trying to ensure that the whole community feels welcome and that the club can keep running. If you would like to donate so that the club can keep running during lockdown and continue to grow, then email this address –info@burnageactivityhub.org.uk
All ages are welcome, from babies, children and parents/grandparents to teens and adults. To maintain the inclusivity ethos; Lego, Duplo and Mega Bloks are all available (along with tea and biscuits too).
Usually, the club has a bimonthly slot at Burnage library, and a space at the Levenshulme market where you can build to live music amongst a great atmosphere.
What about coronavirus?
Unfortunately, the club has had to cancel its regular meets for the foreseeable future due to the current pandemic and even had their birthday spoiled by coronavirus.
However, Helen Beesley, from Burnage, aged 43, who runs the club and is the person behind their Facebook page has set up regular tasks and challenges that you can get involved in remotely.
She says:
“I have been running a virtual club with daily prompts for builds and asking people to send a photo of what they did,” and added that she had “also kept in touch via letter with anyone who asked for a Lego Club letter.”
Helen says that “The best part of the clubs is everyone getting together” and is saddened that this won’t be able to happen for a while. If you want to get involved now, then Helen urges anyone and everyone to “build something and send us a photo,” and as mentioned before, Helen has been setting tasks that you can complete, but you can send a photo of any build you have made.
So far, there have been weeks where Helen sets out a different challenge everyday of the week – including builds such as space stations and tallest towers. Helen tells us that in the future there will be a “stop motion activity…. getting children to do a story board to plan it out and using simple stop motion apps.”
So, if you are looking for something to pass the time or have children who are getting restless as we enter our seventh week of lockdown then stay tuned to Build It Lego Club & Parties.
More than a Lego Club
Helen runs parties too; they are available to book through the club’s Facebook page, although they will not be running until after we return to normal.
In 2021 there is hope to start Lego therapy which Helen says she has “been doing a lot of thinking about during lockdown”
Helen tells us:
“Lego therapy is great to help with children who have issues with social situations” and that “this may be something more children will need after this prolonged period of not being with their friends and classmates.”
The Levy Echo 