CRAZY THORNHILL CARNIVAL COSTUME WORKSHOPS

This half term, the award winning Crazy Thornhill Carnival, in partnership with TWICS (Training for Work in Communities) will be running a series of fun and creative costume workshops, designing bright and colourful costumes for forthcoming festivals taking place across the south, for families in Thornhill.

The Crazy Thornhill Carnival, with the support of TWICS, was granted funding from the Thornhill Plus You Community Chest to create new carnival costumes for the 2007 summer tour. In previous years, the carnival has attracted many Thornhill residents and this year the team are hoping to encourage more families to come along to creative workshops and carnival events.

Facilitators of the group decided the theme ‘fireworks' would be a fun, colourful and lively idea for the costumes. The theme will enable participants at the workshops to work with bright, bold colours, using a variety of materials and textures. The carnival team are also hoping that the costumes will stand out from the crowd, enabling them to swoop future carnival costume awards.

Jennie Rawles from TWICS commented, on behalf of the Crazy Thornhill Carnival: “The workshops are great fun for all the family. They can create and make costumes for carnivals that will be taking place throughout the year, all over the south. It's really rewarding when the family make their costumes and get to show them off in the buzz and excitement of a carnival.”

The Crazy Thornhill Carnival workshops will be taking place on Tuesday 29th May to Friday 1st June from 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. at the Eastpoint Centre in Burgoyne Road , Thornhill. All costumes made will be for the use of participants at forthcoming carnivals and all children under the age of 13 should be accompanied by a responsible carer. For more information please contact Jennie Rawles on 023 8067 1111 or email info@twics.org.uk .

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For more information on this news release please contact:

Lucy Huitson, Communications Assistant, Thornhill Plus You, 023 8091 5405, lhuitson@thornhillplusyou.co.uk .

Photo Call:

Media are welcome to attend the Crazy Thornhill Carnival costume workshops on Thursday 31st May, 1 p.m. at The Eastpoint Centre, Burgoyne Road, Thornhill, Southampton SO19 6PB, free parking available.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Thornhill Plus You Community Chest is a small grants fund for community groups in the Thornhill New Deal for Community area. Constituted groups that are able to demonstrate that their practices and structures are representative of all interests and are clearly accountable to users, beneficiaries and members can apply for funding. For more information about the Community Chest please contact Rachel Smith on 023 8091 5419.
2. The Crazy Thornhill Carnival Summer Tour 2007 will be taking part at the following events:
1. West End Carnival, Saturday 23 rd June
2. Southampton Mela, Saturday 30 th June
3. Hedge End Carnival, Saturday 7 th July
4. Eastleigh Carnival, Saturday 18 th August
5. Bishopstoke Carnival, Saturday 18 th August
6. Southampton City Lit Carnival, Tuesday 10 th December
3. TWICS is a training organisation specialising in community development. TWICS offer a variety of quality training that is enjoyable and inclusive; leading to recognised accreditation where appropriate.
4. The partnership (TWICS, Crazy Thornhill Carnival and Motiv8 Thornhill) has also received funding from Thornhill Plus You to develop a new two year project that will enable people to train in Carnival Crafts and even gain a qualification. The course will also enable some residents to go on and train others in this fun and specialist skill.