The Lost Flock - make a show in a day
SEND and VI friendly event for Families
SAT 4TH OCTOBER 2025, 1-4PM
CIRENCESTER OPPORTUNITY GROUP
Creative outdoor workshops & performance opportunity for young people!
Together we will bring to life the story of a mythical bird. She has lost her flock and needs our creative help to find them!
A story originally written, made and performed by members of our VI family programme (for families with a visually impaired parent or child), supported by Hook & Loop artists.
Through puppet making, dance and song – we’ll turn this story into a show in a day. Rehearsing together for a joyful and informal performance with family & friends!
Who's it for?
- This is a SEND and VI family event.
- Recommended for young people aged 7-11 years.
- For children with additional support needs, Special Education Needs & Disabilities (SEND) and/or with Visual impairment (VI).
- Young people who have a VI parent/s are encouraged to join too.
- Participants can bring a friend or have their sibling involved if they wish.
- A family member is asked to stay during the creative workshops to support children to take part as needed (1-3:30pm)
- You are welcome to bring as many friends & family for the performance element as you like! This will take place 3:30pm.
- The story and main characters have been created by our young VI artists. Participants taking part will work with them alongside Hook & Loop artists to bring the story to life!
Sound up your street? Click below for the booking form.
how it all came about
Ideas for this creative workshop & performance event were created by our current group of Visually Impaired (VI) young people during creative workshops last year.
After being involved in the co-creation of our professional work CRUNCH! in 2022/23, the young people decided it was their turn.
And so The Lost Flock was born!
Using the giant branch featured in CRUNCH!, the young people have created a story about a mythical bird who loses her flock. They co-wrote the initial story in Summer 2024.
The final script is a being created in collaboration between one of our longest standing participants and now young volunteer, Emily Arnold, and VI artist & lead-collaborator, Holly Thomas.
what can you expect?
- Everything takes place at Cirencester Opportunity Group. It’s a magical outdoor space, private too so just for our use on the day.
- You’ll arrive 1pm. Make sure you’ve eaten lunch beforehand, ready for a fun creative afternoon!
- You’ll meet the artists & other children and we will show you around.
- You’ll take part in fun workshops in puppet making, singing and learning some dancing.
- Music and sound (including a helicopter noise) will be amplified through speakers. Children are welcome to wear their ear defenders.
- Parents/carers, at least one adult is asked to stay during the workshops so you can support your children to take part as needed.
- Younger siblings are welcome to stay with you during the workshops (1-3:30pm) – there are places to sit, play & explore.
- We will be outside on the grass. There is shelter in case it rains.
- There will be time for breaks with spaces to play and relax.
- Families and friends are invited to watch what you have made in a final performance.
- If you don’t want to perform, that’s okay – you can still take part for the whole day and support your new friends!
- At the end, everyone will enjoy some juice & cake to celebrate what you’ve achieved together.
- The video below shows a previous event so you can get an idea of the kind of things we get up to!
FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES
“This was the most fun day ever!”
“It was a very happy, relaxed day & a lovely opportunity meet other VI families in a pressure free setting.”
“She has have very limited contact with others who are visually impaired. This event really reassured her that she isn’t the only one!”
VENUE & pRACTICAL DETAILS
Date: Saturday 4th October 2025.
Timings: 1 – 4pm, with a friends & family sharing at 3pm.
Venue: Cirencester Opportunity Group, Beeches Road, GL7 1BW.
Costs: Choose the amount you pay to take part, from £5.
Getting there: Free on-site parking and close to local bus stops.
Weather options: We will be in an outdoor green space. There is shelter in case it rains during the day.
Bursaries are available to take part for free and/or to support with travel costs.
Access: One parent/carer will be allowed to stay on site during the workshops for support purposes or access needs as required.
Private & secure space: This means a safe space for young people to create and share their performance.
Family and friends are invited to attend the performance. Donations will be collected on the day – all money raised goes back to supporting our community interest objectives.
First time with Hook & Loop? You don’t need to have attended any prior workshops or events with us before, new children and young people always welcome.
Help on the day: If parents or an older sibling would like to volunteer, we will be looking for additional help, so please let us know!
how to get involved
If you and your family are interested, complete this booking form and we’ll be in touch to confirm your place.
If you like, we can have a chat about what you can expect from the event so you can make sure it is right for you. Contact Michelle:
Phone: 07870 998481
Email: Hello@HookAndLoop.org.uk
We look forward to hearing from you!
more information
For more information, you can:
- Read a blog written by young volunteer, Emily
- Watch another video of one our previous projects here
this project is supported by
