A creative workshop for local schoolchildren here at The Ice Cream Farm was surprised by the arrival of Cheshire’s High Sheriff, who came to honour the event organiser with an award for services to the community.
Charity AmaSing, which supports mental health in young people and communities through the arts, hosted children from 25 Cheshire primary schools for a song composition workshop at The Ice Cream Farm.
In the afternoon of 14 Oct, High Sheriff Jeannie France-Hayhurst arrived to surprise Rachael Borman, Director and Founder of AmaSing, with the High Sheriff’s Award in “recognition of great and valuable services to the community”.
The Ice Cream Farm workshop saw 56 local schoolchildren create a song alongside professional composer James Dee. The aim was to provide an inclusive and exciting arts opportunity to support wellbeing and creativity in young people from the area, no matter their needs, age, ability or background.
Ms Borman said: “This magical day was the first time we have brought lots of Cheshire schools together in a workshop to create music since the pandemic, so it was really special to be able to do that again. What made it even more amazing was to be able to do it at the wonderful Ice Cream Farm.”
The song the children composed will be professionally produced, recorded and sung by a choir of children from the schools involved, as well as taught in a huge ‘online sing’ to schools across the county.
“The children were amazing ambassadors for their schools and behaved brilliantly,” Ms Borman added. “The day was full of creativity, lots of fun and of course delicious ice cream.
“We are incredibly excited to hear the end result and are very grateful to The Ice Cream Farm for partnering with us and making this opportunity available to lots of Cheshire schools, supporting young peoples’ mental health through arts and music.”
Surprise guest Jeannie France-Hayhurt, High Sheriff of Cheshire, dropped by to award Rachael Borman with an award for her services to the community. “It was extra special to have a visit from her and to receive my amazing High Sheriff Award for services to the community through the arts,” said Ms Borman. “The children were so excited to see her and it was lovely that she joined in with the singing and laughing with everybody.”
Jonathan Fell, Owner and CEO of The Ice Cream Farm, said: “It was an absolute pleasure for us to host this talented young group of local schoolchildren. We were blown away by their creativity in composing the first ‘Ice Cream Farm Theme Tune’ and look forward to welcoming them back for the recording.
“Young children have missed out on so many opportunities because of the pandemic; experiences which are so positive for their wellbeing. So The Ice Cream Farm is delighted to support AmaSing in all it is doing to deliver arts projects to our local communities.”
The schools which took part in the project were: Utkinton St. Paul’s C of E Primary School; Waverton Community Primary School; Delamere Church of England Primary School; Tilston Parochial Primary School; Shocklach Oviatt C. E. Primary School; St Werburgh’s & St Columba’s Catholic Primary School; Tarporley C Of E Primary School; Sandiway Primary School; Cherry Grove Primary School; Kelsall Primary School; Dodleston C of E Primary School; Maple Grove School; St Oswald’s CE Primary School Chester; Clutton Church of England Primary School; St Winefride’s Catholic Primary School; Guilden Sutton C of E Primary School; Tarvin Primary School; Alvanley and Manley Village School; Upton Westlea Primary School; Hoole Church of England Primary School; St Clare’s Catholic Primary School; Horn’s Mill Primary School; Mill View Primary School; Lache Primary School; and St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School.
