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CAMBRIDGE OFFERS TROUBLEMAKERS A HANDMembers of the ‘Troublemakers’ group at Eddie’s, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities, gained experience both behind and in front of the camera producing a short fi lm – that was then chosen for the Cambridge Film Festival in October. The Case of the Missing Yapper is based on a small toy dog that one of the members brought each week. Cambridge DFAS donated £1,000 to the group, making it possible for the fi lm to be screened at a free event in May. It was later shown at the popular Cambridge Junction arts venue as part of the Film Festival. “The group have worked really hard producing the fi lm and were very excited about seeing it on the big screen. It simply wouldn’t be possible to do this without the fi nancial support that we’ve received,” said Suzanne Lombardo from Eddie’s. Vicky Field from Cambridge DFAS commented, “It’s wonderful to be able to support an area of the arts that makes such a positive difference to the lives of those involved in the project.” ■Left: The ‘Troublemakers’ group with the star of the fi lm, a toy dogCORINIUM PROJECT OPENS THE DOOR TO A NEW WORLD‘The fog came crawling over the common like a living thing, all tendrils and tentacles. Across the road it crept, like a great serpent swallowing everything in its path, worrying its slow way towards the still sleeping village of Minchinhampton...’ So begins the fi rst chapter of a children’s book written by children’s author John Dougherty and the 300 or so pupils attending Minchinhampton Primary School in Stroud, Gloucestershire. The project has been funded by Corinium DFAS and organised by its Young Arts team. It will take approximately 18 months and is involving teachers and children, the PTA at the school and the town library. The children have named the characters appearing in the book, including its ‘guide character’ Pig on a Motorbike. With their teachers, they’re researching its various story strands, including local areas of historic interest, disappearing children, a ghost school, and a battle with a vampire. The whole school is involved – with each class selecting a specifi c strand, plotting and writing the story line.The fi nal chapter will be written by John Dougherty, who will also tie up the loose ends. The artwork for the book is being drawn and painted by the children and will be shown during an ‘Arts Week’ being organised by the schools’ teachers and the PTA, culminating with an exhibition and book launch in Minchinhampton’s 17th-century Market House.Lizzie Brett (West Mercia Area Co-ordinator) and Nina Bryan (Corinium DFAS Young Arts Representative) both agreed that “knowing NADFAS is able to sponsor this type of project has defi nitely given us, as volunteers, an all round feeling of success. These young people are not just looking forward to seeing their work in print, and their art work exhibited, it’s their excitement and enthusiasm that are a palpable part of this fantastic project which is opening up worlds hitherto unknown to them.”Right: Author John Dougherty at Minchinhampton Primary SchoolVOLUNTEERING www.nadfas.org.uk NADFAS REVIEW / WINTER 67