Adoption Activity Days
"Olwyn's cartoon strips inspire imagination and creativity in both children and adults alike. They have become an important resource for our activity days as they help to facilitate interaction between people of all ages. At our child-centred events, the cartoon strips are not only a talking point, they are engaging and inclusive. Olwyn is able to accommodate our requests to design strips based on a number of different themes, including pirates, jungle and the circus, and each one has been as fun and entertaining as the next. Olwyn is a talented artist and a true professional."
British Association for Adoption and Fostering UK
National Adoption week
"I just wanted to let you know the cartoon strip you designed for our Adoption celebration at the Crumlin Road Gaol during National Adoption week was a big hit - especially with our older children and teenagers. All the jail cells were filled with cheeky little faces and autographed by their artists. The robbers striped T-shirts also meant that nearly every football team in the premiership is represented! All 12ft is now laminated and has pride of place on the back wall of our training/meeting room. Thank you very much!"
British Association for Adoption and Fostering Northern Ireland
"Olwyn's cartoon strips inspire imagination and creativity in both children and adults alike. They have become an important resource for our activity days as they help to facilitate interaction between people of all ages. At our child-centred events, the cartoon strips are not only a talking point, they are engaging and inclusive. Olwyn is able to accommodate our requests to design strips based on a number of different themes, including pirates, jungle and the circus, and each one has been as fun and entertaining as the next. Olwyn is a talented artist and a true professional."
British Association for Adoption and Fostering UK
National Adoption week
"I just wanted to let you know the cartoon strip you designed for our Adoption celebration at the Crumlin Road Gaol during National Adoption week was a big hit - especially with our older children and teenagers. All the jail cells were filled with cheeky little faces and autographed by their artists. The robbers striped T-shirts also meant that nearly every football team in the premiership is represented! All 12ft is now laminated and has pride of place on the back wall of our training/meeting room. Thank you very much!"
British Association for Adoption and Fostering Northern Ireland
V&A Museum of Childhood
"The Activity Strips were very popular with our family audiences. Younger children enjoyed colouring in the drawings, while older children and adults added their own designs to the mural.
The activity is very intuitive and didn't need a great deal of explanation or supervision. We kept the drawing implements quite basic (crayons and chalks) which seemed to work well. I appreciated how you were able to provide bespoke designs that related to our collection and event themes, and how prompt you were with their delivery.
The Activity Strips were very popular and I hope to use them again in 2013."
Carolyn Chinn, Learning Manager V&A Museum of Childhood
"The Activity Strips were very popular with our family audiences. Younger children enjoyed colouring in the drawings, while older children and adults added their own designs to the mural.
The activity is very intuitive and didn't need a great deal of explanation or supervision. We kept the drawing implements quite basic (crayons and chalks) which seemed to work well. I appreciated how you were able to provide bespoke designs that related to our collection and event themes, and how prompt you were with their delivery.
The Activity Strips were very popular and I hope to use them again in 2013."
Carolyn Chinn, Learning Manager V&A Museum of Childhood
Post Adoption Agency
"We used the cartoon strips for our annual Adoption Family Day.
It was really special to have the designs created especially for our day. It also worked very well that we had two different designs: one for the younger children, and one for the older children. The strips were set out in the main hall of the venue and were used mainly as an introductory activity for children and parents to engage in whilst the registration of families took place. This was very helpful in managing the large number of people arriving at the venue at the same time, and immediately helped the children to engage with each other. The majority of children who arrived spent time colouring and doodling on the strips (as did many parents!) and it was nice to see such a range of children engaging in this activity."
Kelly Singer, Social worker Post Adoption Specialist Support Service
"We used the cartoon strips for our annual Adoption Family Day.
It was really special to have the designs created especially for our day. It also worked very well that we had two different designs: one for the younger children, and one for the older children. The strips were set out in the main hall of the venue and were used mainly as an introductory activity for children and parents to engage in whilst the registration of families took place. This was very helpful in managing the large number of people arriving at the venue at the same time, and immediately helped the children to engage with each other. The majority of children who arrived spent time colouring and doodling on the strips (as did many parents!) and it was nice to see such a range of children engaging in this activity."
Kelly Singer, Social worker Post Adoption Specialist Support Service
Young Carers Organisations for their fun days in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes
"Over 170 people attended our Carers Family Christmas Party of which, approximately 80 were children. All ages both children and adults got involved in the activity. It was nice to see some families taking part together.
I"m sure I will be using them again in the future and would recommend them to other organisations that run clubs, events or activities for young people and their families"
David Matthews, Young Carers Support work
"Over 170 people attended our Carers Family Christmas Party of which, approximately 80 were children. All ages both children and adults got involved in the activity. It was nice to see some families taking part together.
I"m sure I will be using them again in the future and would recommend them to other organisations that run clubs, events or activities for young people and their families"
David Matthews, Young Carers Support work
Post Adoption Agency
We had around 30 adopted children and their adoptive parents attend our workshops. The strips were mainly used as a welcoming and introductory activity and were very useful to manage the varying arrival times our families had at the event as well as allowing the children and parents to become acquainted with each other and the workers who were present.
We are likely to use these strips again on other Family Days and would recommend them for other groups as they provide an inclusive activity for children and their parents to undertake which allow mutual aims and enjoyment."
Louise Holt, Senior Social worker Post Adoption Team
We had around 30 adopted children and their adoptive parents attend our workshops. The strips were mainly used as a welcoming and introductory activity and were very useful to manage the varying arrival times our families had at the event as well as allowing the children and parents to become acquainted with each other and the workers who were present.
We are likely to use these strips again on other Family Days and would recommend them for other groups as they provide an inclusive activity for children and their parents to undertake which allow mutual aims and enjoyment."
Louise Holt, Senior Social worker Post Adoption Team
Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, Children's corner at an exhibition
"They enhanced the exhibition experience, encouraging adults to engage their children with the exhibition. Whilst others used the activity to keep children busy while the adults enjoyed the exhibition.
I would recommend to other galleries and organisations the use of comic strips as a family resource or workshop activity."
Claire Longrigg, Assistant Curator of Exhibitions
"They enhanced the exhibition experience, encouraging adults to engage their children with the exhibition. Whilst others used the activity to keep children busy while the adults enjoyed the exhibition.
I would recommend to other galleries and organisations the use of comic strips as a family resource or workshop activity."
Claire Longrigg, Assistant Curator of Exhibitions
Westfield First School, Year 1 pupils
"Using the activity at the start of a new school year stimulated children to interact with peers by discussing their choices and comparing both their pictures and writing. This 'ice breaker' enticed children to take part, make decisions and select colouring/writing tools. Staff felt that observing the children's attempts at drawing, colouring, writing and interacting offered an excellent opportunity to informally assess pupils."
Denis Dixon, Base Leader, Westfield Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) Base
"Using the activity at the start of a new school year stimulated children to interact with peers by discussing their choices and comparing both their pictures and writing. This 'ice breaker' enticed children to take part, make decisions and select colouring/writing tools. Staff felt that observing the children's attempts at drawing, colouring, writing and interacting offered an excellent opportunity to informally assess pupils."
Denis Dixon, Base Leader, Westfield Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) Base
Bucks County Museum Aylesbury for their Big Draw event
"At this year's Big Draw event we focused on encouraging young people and adults to join in and have a go. The activity strips you provided for us were ideal for this. They were novel as they provided a different way for the children to draw as we were able to place them on the walls. This also made the activity space different and lively. They also provided a vibrant space for children to be creative. I would highly recommend them and hopefully we will be able to use them again in the future."
Victoria Scrivens, Schools learning team leader
"At this year's Big Draw event we focused on encouraging young people and adults to join in and have a go. The activity strips you provided for us were ideal for this. They were novel as they provided a different way for the children to draw as we were able to place them on the walls. This also made the activity space different and lively. They also provided a vibrant space for children to be creative. I would highly recommend them and hopefully we will be able to use them again in the future."
Victoria Scrivens, Schools learning team leader