Starcatchers' Saturdays

Aim

Help us provide inspiring, free, creative play sessions to support the wellbeing of young families in Wester Hailes - Starcatchers Saturdays

Who are Starcatchers?

Starcatchers is Scotland's Arts and Early Years Organisation. We exist to give Scotland's wee ones and their families the chance to access and participate in high-quality artistic activity, realising the right of early years children to access appropriate cultural activity and supporting them to develop creativity, confidence, self-expression and good mental health and wellbeing from day one.
 

What is Starcatchers' Saturdays?

Starcatchers' Saturdays answered a call from families we work with in Wester Hailes for a weekend-based creative play group. Holding sessions at the weekend allows for whole families to come along and spend quality creative time together, getting inspired by artists and by each other. Sessions are delivered by Starcatchers artists at the Community Wellbeing Collective Shop Space in Westside Plaza, right at the heart of the community, and are open to all children aged 0-5 and their grown-ups who live in and around Wester Hailes.

Activities are different every week, with our team of artists inspired by the interests of the wee ones who come along to create sessions that make everyone feel welcomed and involved. So far, our artists have created magical, interactive sessions around themes like Camping, Space, Under the Sea, Spinning, Lights & Reflections and Cozy Home amongst loads more. We keep Starcatchers' Saturdays free so that as many families as possible can come along, and we get to know each other better over a free lunch at the end of every session.

Why are we Crowdfunding?

We're crowdfunding to make sure that Starcatchers' Saturdays remain free for the families that join us week-on-week-- especially as we're all facing the crunch from the cost of living crisis. We believe everyone has the right to high-quality artistic and creative experiences, and this means removing as many barriers to access as possible. 

How we'll spend the money raised

All the money raised in this Crowdfunder will be spent directly on costs of running this programme, including fees to the artists and materials for the sessions. 

And as we're a Creative Scotland Crowdmatch shortlisted project, your donations can go even further, with anything you gift before 21 April being doubled by Creative Scotland. 

The benefits of Starcatchers Saturdays

We all need more opportunities to have fun and relax together but of course, there's more to it than that! Arts and creativity for 0-5s and their adults supports positive wellbeing, strong relationships, and help give children the best start in life. Babies and children involved develop greater socialisation and stimulation which in turns helps physical, cognitive social and emotional development, and adults can benefit from increased confidence, wellbeing and development through successful engagement with and participation in creative activities. Starcatchers' Saturdays helps to support and encourage bonding through play and new creative experiences together. Importantly, these sessions also create a sense of connectedness between these families and their community. 

This project successfully funded on 21st April 2023