We were thrilled to participate in the Crouch End Festival on Saturday 9 July 2022. Alongside the events taking place in Stationer’s Park and elsewhere in Crouch End, Hornsey Vale Community Centre was a hub for food, entertainment, and activities. Tasty food options included veg butties, Kally’s vegan Buddha bowls, and Casselia’s jerk chicken. Attendees kicked the day off with a performing arts workshop for kids and young people with the Truefitt Collective Dance Theatre Company. Truefitt Collective is a North-London based dance organisation delivering Dancing Mindfulness activities for young people.
We also showcased the SOUP Ukelele orchestra in the Main Hall, had a session on ‘Drastic Plastic: getting creative with waste plastic,’ did a salsa workshop led by Gabi Solano, and had crafts tables hosted by Evergreen Music and Drama and our very own volunteers. Children made arts and crafts creations to take home, followed by a short movement session linking to their art piece.
HVCC volunteer Sherilyn Sibanda shared her impression of the event:
I have been organising community events at Hornsey Vale Community Centre since December 2021. When you come across a group of people who are so invested in our community, they want to find ways of making the lives of everyone more informed, brighter, healthier and happier. You know you have joined forces with something incredibly magical.
The Crouch End Festival added just that.
I had the privilege of volunteering at Hornsey Vale for the festival. Cycling into the centre, you could smell the delicious (and very popular) jerk chicken provided by Casselia from roads away. As I walked into the centre there was a salsa dancer showcasing her skills and welcoming passers-by into the centre to listen to some music and try out their dancing skills. You could see the excited faces of the children, just filled with glee at what this day would bring.
I had not yet entered the community centre, but already I could feel the positivity, the smiles, the sense of togetherness. It was infectious, and I was excited to be part of this beautiful festival.
I volunteered at the arts and crafts table. We honestly have some very talented, creative, and imaginative children in our community, it was such a pleasure to inspire and be inspired by their artistic flair. Also, within the centre, we also had delicious food from our jerk chicken vendors with their deadly rum punch (who dared to try it?!) and the delicious vegan hot pots. We had music, dancing, and a very popular clown entertainer. But most importantly we had a gathering to celebrate us, our community. There were smiles, laughter, people connecting regardless of who they were or where they came from.
Thank you so much to the organisers of the Crouch End Festival for reminding us what an amazing, diverse, and welcoming community we are all part of. I absolutely love my community and I am looking forward to being part of the Crouch End Festival in 2023.