New TBE phone group for older people

Over the last year, through funding from the City Bridge Trust, we have been extending our work with older people by investigating new methods that can bring architectural and built environment learning to people who are isolated or less mobile.  

Over the past months we have run virtual walking tours and have delivered creative activities at day centres and to other older peoples groups. Now we are really excited to be extending this work further, through a partnership with Community Network.

The Senior BEE's discussing High Street 2012

Community Network have introduced us to some fantastic technology, which enables groups of people to form phone groups and have discussions, using technology similar to that which is used by businesses in telephone conferencing. The great thing about this is that group members are able to take part using their own home phone. This means that if people find it difficult to leave their house, they can still participate in discussions and some of the activities we offer to groups like the Senior BEE's.

Last week Lizzie learnt how to be a phone group facilitator. She said;

"The training was delivered as a phone group, with two other people who were also being trained at the same time as me. I was surprised how easy it was to get used to saying my name before I spoke (so everyone knows who is talking) and how quickly I developed a phone friendship with the other participants. I also loved learning lots of theory about group development and dynamics"

The Building Exploratory phone group will launch in October. If you, or someone you know may be interested in taking part please contact Lizzie at projects@buildingexploratory.org.uk

'With compliments of the Future'

On Friday the Senior BEEs attended the Paralympic Games and watched a morning of Athletics in the Olympic Stadium, before having an afternoon to explore the park and get a closer look at some of the buildings they have been finding out about over the last couple of years. This wonderful opportunity was made possible by courtesy of the London Legacy Company.

 

Building Exploratory Project Officer Lizzie Edwards went along to find out what the BEEs thought of the Olympic Park:

‘The day started early in the morning when we collected a box of tickets that said on the front ‘With Compliments of the Future’. Up close, the stadiums certainly look very futuristic, especially the incredible structures of the Orbit and Velodrome that will remain in the park after the Olympics have finished. The BEEs were interested to discuss and imagine how these places will be used by the future communities of the area, particularly given their proximity the current Athletes Village, parts of which will be converted into residential apartments.

Watching the Paralymic Athletics also gave them some view into the future, with the incredible technology that enables so many athletes to compete and indeed on the morning we were there, to break one world and paralympic record after another!

We also really enjoyed exploring some of the environmental developments of the park, spending a lot of the afternoon on the grass by the side of the River Lea watching the games on a big screen. The planting around these areas is beautiful and the river looks incredibly clean. It will be a fantastic place to visit come back and visit once the park opens again as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Spring 2013.

We would like to thank the London Legacy Company for this amazing opportunity

As some of the BEEs commented after their visit, it was ‘thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated’ and ‘it was a great day. Only by being there did I appreciate the scale of the operation – huge!’

A day at the Park for the Senior BEE's

There was much excitement in the office this week when we got a message from the London Legacy Company to say we had won tickets for the Senior BEE's to visit the Olympic Stadium during the Paralympic Games at the end of August!

 The Stadium last week! Aimée was luck enough to be there for the first day of Athletics!

The BEE's have been following the development of the park with great interest since the plans were announced. Along the way they have been invited by Hackney Olympic Team and the Legacy Company to comment on the master plans for the olympic site and for Hackney Wick.

 The BEE's at the Olympic park in 2007

Back in 2007 as part of our Winning Places project, they had a tour of the park while development was in its early stages and have since made to visit to Holden Point to view the developments from above, but for most of the BEE's this will be their first chance to see the Olympic Park in all its glory. We (and they) can't wait!

 The BEE's at Emirates Stadium for Winning Places

A great end to the school term

Over the last five days we have been at Dersingham Primary School in Newham, delivering our ‘Mapping Spaces: The Olympic Park’ workshop. 

During the week 300 students at Dersingham primary have been developing their historic enquiry and geography skills, exploring the past, present and future of the Olympic Park.  

 

Teachers said of the workshops: 

‘The activities were interactive and engaging' (Yr 2 teacher)
 
‘Children kept moving, a good mix of pair and group work and given real materials to explore’ 
(Yr 4 teacher)

‘Visual aids and creativity were encouraged through discussion about materials and use of problem solving skills’ 
(Yr 2 teacher)

The teacher’s enthusiasm was matched by our staff, and workshop leader Niamh commented ‘it was great seeing the children's excitement as they began to understand how the Olympic Park came to be and discuss what it could be in the future’.

What a great end to a fantastic year for our schools programme! 

We are really looking forward to delivering our new workshops in the Autumn term, including one about the Blitz and the Victorians. Keep an eye on our website for the new programme - coming soon!