Waddle-on-Sea – created by Havens Hospices and Wild in Art – will see 30 large penguin sculptures and some very special baby penguins dotted around the city, including Leigh-on-Sea, each sponsored by a local business and painted by a professional artist in varying styles.
Alongside these will be ‘mini huddles’ of baby penguins. The baby penguins are part of the Community & Learning Programme, sponsored by Rickard Luckin, and are integral to the success of the art trial. Each one will be designed by a local school, youth group or community project, making them completely unique, with their own personalities and names.
Kingsdown School, which provides specialist education to children aged 4 to 14 with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties, is part of the Community & Learning Programme thanks to the kindness of local business, Green Light Print Solutions, who have generously sponsored and covered the cost of their baby penguin.
Many of the pupils at the school and their families benefit from the high-quality support and care provided by Little Havens, the only children’s hospice in Essex, which supports babies, children, and teenagers living with complex or incurable conditions.
Deanne Hensey, Deputy Head of Kingsdown School, says, “This is a wonderful opportunity for our children to participate and contribute to a community project and to fundraise for Little Havens, a resource that many of them and their families use and value greatly.
“We’re very grateful to our sponsor, Green Light, for making this possible for them. We’re trying to find a way for all of our children to participate and work directly on the penguin so that they can feel ownership of the project. Their voices will demonstrate the different ways in which our children communicate.”
Green Light Print Solutions, based in Shoeburyness, is a full-service print and marketing company across Essex, London and all over the UK.
Damon Langlois, Managing Director of Green Light Print Solutions, says, “After an already longstanding relationship with Kingsdown School, it is great to be able to support them again by sponsoring their baby penguin.
“To have the opportunity to visit them and see the inspiring work they continue to do is humbling. Being able to support them along with Havens Hospices is even better, and we are very happy to be involved in our third art trail, Waddle-on-Sea. We can’t wait to see them take over our city next year.”
There are only a few days left for schools and groups to secure their baby penguin for next year’s art trail.
The baby penguin sculpture costs £990+VAT, including installation and a Community & Learning Resource Pack with plans, templates and activities based on the national curriculum. Schools and groups can either cover the cost or encourage the pupils or young people to fundraise.
If you’d like to join the mini huddle, make sure to visit www.waddleonsea.co.uk/getinvolved to find out more or email miniwaddle@havenshospices.org.uk before 5pm on Monday 25th November.
Published on 20th November 2024.
