This Saturday there’s a full day of fun on the cards for younger children with a pop-up adventure playground at a local charity in Salford.
Visitors to Children’s Scrapstore will be handed piles of giant cardboard boxes and sheets, fabric, paint, tape and string and encouraged to build, tear and tie together pieces to create their own imagination playspace.
An unused paddling pool, or a mermaid’s home?
Children’s Scrapstore opened their children’s warehouse in February at Alderson Street, off the A576 Broughton Road.
They took over the building from previous Salford arts charity House of Grumpy, which closed at the end of last year.
The idea for Children’s Scrapstore began in Bristol alsmost 40 years ago, taking paper, card and plastic off-cuts from business waste and resuing it as fodder for children’s playtime.
The key idea is that old bits of donated leftovers can be recycled into fabulous forts, proper paintings or even solar systems; whether it’s plastic forks, bits of old coloured string or polystyrene spheres.
Across the country there’s a network of around 65 independent scrapstores all getting involved in expanding children’s imaginations.
Co-ordinator Ruth Abbott told SalfordOnline.com: “We’ve got 185 interested on Facebook – last time we had 50 people interested and 42 came, so at the moment we’re expecting 70-100 children.
“The materials have come from all over, local businesses are starting to support us, while some have come from our parent store in Bristol.
“We’re inviting everyone to a day of creativity and discovery.
“Even if it’s raining we’d invite people to come down: there’s junk modelling inside and even a little self-serve cafe for parents if it all gets too much!”
Children must be accompanied at all times but this is a free event and you don’t need to book tickets.
The pop-up Adventure Playground runs from 10.30am to 2.30pm this Saturday 13 August for families with children age 4 and above.
“We’ll honour all ‘Grumpy’ memberships but Scrapstore is a completely different company,” explained Ruth, who started working with the charity three months ago.
“If you remember when you were a kid you’d get a present and play with the box it came in, that’s the idea.
“It’s a very natural thing for children to want to do – instead of having a parent or teacher telling you this is what you have to do, they can take control and create their own space.
“It puts the little ones in charge and really does help boost their confidence.”
As paint is involved – and free expression encouraged – Scrapstore recommend that children wear clothes they don’t mind getting messy.
Find out more at Children’s Scrapstore Salford on Facebook
Unit 14-16, Orchard Street Industrial Estate, Alderston Street, Salford, M6 6FL.
