Laura Solley and Hot Dog Club
Laura and her two children, Freddie and Bella and her nephew Jacob, first got involved with Creative Newington via the Hot Dog Club on a Thursday after-school
Case Study
Prior to getting involved with the project, Laura talks about being creative; from baking cakes, studying and qualifying as a gel nail technician to home decorating with her Dad giving her a job as a professional decorator.
With both of her children attending Newington Community Primary School, Laura talks about speaking to one particular Mum about the club. Laura said: “The two hours between the children leaving school and her partner home from work can be stressful, and as a parent you find ways to delay going home straight from school.” They decided to attend the after-school sessions; the sessions started off quite small, quiet and chilled out, with just a few families attending; there was drawing, colouring and Lego. The club provided an opportunity for Laura to talk to others adults – a whole day can go by without having any interaction with adults – and the importance of that connection with others.
The group grew by word-of mouth; conversations with other families in the park and receiving messages on Facebook – there was a curiosity and interest in the group. As time evolved, the children started to take ownership of the club and called it ‘Hot Dog Club’ and the name stuck. Some small promotional cards were produced and handed out and the club grew. Laura says:
“It was quite a triumph. Friendships were made. And it wasn’t just the children that made new friends, it was the Mums too. It was an opportunity for a bit of normality, to sit and catch up and have a laugh. Getting home and not having to cook a full meal, with the children relaxed and chilled out after spending some extra time with their friends.”
This is when Laura met Kerry, though having known her for some years, they started a conversation about the group – where you also get a free hot dog! This was the start of Laura’s blossoming friendship with Kerry. The more they spoke, the more they discovered they had a lot in common. Now they are best friends who speak every day. Both of their sons soon became best friends, too.
Laura talks about some of the activities they took part in, firstly the Alley Animals, led by artist Rob Turner. The alley animals were installed on a fence in the alleyway between the Copse and the school. Families talk about the animals, identify them and make up stories, and form a welcome distraction whilst waiting for the school gates to open. Some were placed on an external wall of the community centre. Bella and Freddie would take their friends and their Nan to see their artwork and spoke about feeling proud of what they had created. The next project was to re-design the benches and the sign outside the community centre by creating mosaics. These were started pre-Covid lockdown and continued post-Covid. Laura talks about the process of making mosaics being quite long and so over time the children became less interested in making them and would become disruptive. Despite some challenges, Laura says the mosaics are ‘brilliant’ and especially the sign with their faces being turned into Disney-inspired faces.
As part of the group, Laura and Kerry ran a recycled cardboard challenge. The session was so popular they had queues of children asking how to make various items. Bella made a dress. Laura said ‘It was probably one of the best hot dog club sessions that the kids had. We felt like we had done something for the community.’ They went on to run a balloon modelling session and with the confidence gained from running these sessions, they organised a Halloween event for families with 150 people attending.
Various changes were made to the Hot Dog Club - the food, the increasing popularity of the club, new people coming in - it felt the group dynamic had changed. Laura spoke about the scale of the group and whether they were still needed in the same way.
Laura has many ideas for potential future activities including a family bingo night once a month on a Friday night; continue to have trips – ‘getting out of Thanet, visiting different places, travelling together on the train, it’s fun’. Themed community events – Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas. Six-week projects for families so there’s time to create something, learn new skills but just long enough so the children don’t get bored. Families to sign-up to attend ensuring the group is manageable.
Speaking with Laura, there’s a real sense of self-confidence, well-being, pride, community connection and a life-long friendship made.