Freedom Through Fun

For those of you who don’t know me, I was a teacher in different schools for twenty five years, a social worker in the Child Health and Child Disability Team West Sussex for fifteen years and in 2006 I set up my own company ‘Freedom Through Fun’.  I had very clear aims – the activities must provide inclusion, play, fun, feeling valued and being part of a group or community of different ages connecting with each other.

With a drama background I began with basic circus skills, games, improvisation and comedy. 
In time I received other requests; “Do you do magic?” - I gathered together a variety of tricks which I learnt and quickly found they were a real hit!  Children loved opportunities to be involved sometimes as the magician’s assistant and my Magic Show continues to be enjoyed; everyone loves the magic words: “Wiggle your fingers, wiggle your thumbs, that’s the way the magic’s done!”

The circus skills are very popular and include juggling with balls and scarves, plate spinning, skipping ropes, poi and diablo.  These resources provide everyone with opportunities to try something new, enjoy a sense of achievement, watch each other happily enjoy their successes and the next time build on what they’ve learnt before.

Next I introduced different sized puppets which can be used and enjoyed either individually or in twos, threes or more.  Participants soon give their puppets a character, sometimes a voice or get together to make up a story and a play.
I have around seventy musical instruments of all shapes and sizes which anyone can try out and see what sounds they can make.  As well as playing individually, sometimes we sit in a circle and create an improvised story using sound – a soundscape.  As well as instruments I have loads of fabrics, coloured tissue paper and card which we use to create a scene to go with their soundscapes.  The jungle; outer space; under the sea - in fact wherever our imaginations take us!

The big bubble makers are a huge hit.  There’s something magical about moving a triangle of rope in the bubble mixture, moving it slowly in the air and watching huge rainbow coloured bubbles forming and making shapes in the sky.  Sometimes children work together holding one stick of the wand each.

Stomp rockets are huge fun; stomp on or move the wheel of a wheelchair over the rubber bulb and a foam rocket with fins rises in the air with ‘wows’ and ‘oohs’.  “Look how high it’s gone!”
Parachute games with soft balls are a great way to get everyone together to participate in the fun.  Children can sit underneath whilst those around the edge of the parachute lift it high in the air then down on top of everyone underneath.  Popcorn is a game where the small coloured balls are on top and we shake it hard to get the balls out.

Storytelling and making is also a great way to get everyone involved and included.  Ideas for the story come from the group and the sounds from them too, either using voices or instruments.

My most recent work for Wellspring has once again included ‘Wheely Wonders’ in the amazing outdoors at Applefield with its natural surroundings and animals. 

Funded by Wellspring on April 13th this year, I enjoyed an Easter Family Party for the Chichester and Arun Down Syndrome Association in North Mundham Village Hall which was great fun.  
I’ve also provided activity sessions for PACSO which again were made joyful by everyone taking part.

Over the last eighteen years I’ve been privileged to work in schools, on playscheme, at Lodge Hill Activity Centre, Women’s Aid, leisure centres and more.

Underpinning all I do: “Seeing the person beyond the person we see”.  We all have potential to be discovered and developed. Encourage creativity and imagination.  
Be inclusive and enable everyone to take part.  Value play and fun together.  “Free play is when children have the freedom to play as themselves in the ways that best enable them to do so”.
I’m hugely privileged to do what I greatly enjoy; I receive as much if not more than I hopefully give.

THANK YOU to all of you I’ve met and been with over the years!  

I am looking forward to running more workshops funded by the National Lottery next year.  Please get in touch if you would like to book a workshop for your group or class!

Chris North
Email: [email protected]​