Spotlight on HCREW
Clay shaping on the Plant and Pottery session
HCREW: five years of bringing colour, creativity and active weekends to Heighington's children
This year marks the fifth anniversary of HCREW, the volunteer collective - lead by Barbara Hemingway - that has quietly become one of Heighington’s most energetic and imaginative community group. Far from slowing down, the team has stepped up its programme — more events, more variety, and more opportunities for local families to get involved, learn and simply have fun together.
High-quality, innovative sessions for all ages HCREW specialises in high-quality, inventive events tailored to children and families. Their calendar reads like a highlights reel: pottery painting sessions that let little hands get messy and proud, medieval dressing-up days that transport youngsters into another century, hands-on STEM build workshops that spark curiosity, and seasonal highlights around Easter, Halloween and Christmas that draw the whole village together. Each activity is designed to be accessible, stimulating and — crucially — good fun.
One thing that sets HCREW apart is their ability to attract special guests and collaborate with respected local organisations. Over the years they’ve invited artists and visitors who bring sessions to life, creating memories that last long after the glue has dried. Collaborations have included events with the Locomotion Museum, practical sessions with Redworth Beekeepers, Lego-Construction Kids workshops, and creative projects with illustrator Liz Million, to name just a few. These partnerships add expertise, authenticity and a sense of scale to their village events.
Events that build skills and community
Beyond entertainment, HCREW’s activities contribute to children’s development. Pottery painting and craft sessions foster fine motor skills and creativity; medieval dressing-up encourages imaginative play and local heritage awareness; STEM builds promote problem-solving and teamwork. Seasonal themed events provide shared experiences that knit neighbours together — a simple but powerful way to strengthen community ties.
Volunteers powering the programme
HCREW is run entirely by volunteers whose commitment is visible in the growing programme. Organising, fundraising, setting up and running sessions takes time and care, and the volunteers’ enthusiasm shows in the professional feel of the events. As they enter their fifth year, the team are as ambitious as ever and are already planning more activities to keep Heighington’s children busy, curious and happy.
Spotlight: Plants and Pottery session
One standout recent event was HCREW’s Plants and Pottery session, held in the village hall. The morning began with a clay warm-up: children shaped clay into decorative objects under the encouraging eye of the organisers, who were always ready to support the most unusual ideas and happily let sessions drift slightly off-theme when creativity demanded it. The relaxed atmosphere meant imagination could run free, and small groups helped each child develop their idea.
While the clay creations dried, everyone moved onto potting up lovely plants. HCREW provided pots and compost, and one astounding donation from a crew member made the day even more special — ten different perennial plants for each participant. For a group that keeps its session prices so reasonable, that level of generosity was truly mind‑blowing and much appreciated by families.
There was even an unexpected sensory moment: a soapy, warm hand-wash station for compost covered little hands that turned into a giggly, tactile interlude before painting began. Back at the tables, children mixed colours and used fine brushes to decorate their clay pieces — a delightful challenge that helped develop fine motor skills while also being lots of fun.
What’s next
With a proven track record and an expanding list of collaborators and guests, HCREW looks set to carry on enriching family life in Heighington.
Families wanting to join in, offer skills or volunteer time are encouraged to get in touch with the group — there are lots of ways to help keep the village’s calendar colourful and active.
A huge thank you
Barbara Hemingway and her team of volunteers continue to bring energy, skill and generosity to Heighington. Their relentless work to make children’s lives nicer — and more active — in the village deserves a very special thank you. If you’ve not yet joined one of their events, keep an eye out: with five years under their belt, HCREW shows no sign of slowing, and there are more creative experiences to come.
