giant opportunity for community focus

In just three months time, over 60 giants will take to the streets of Chester for the 4th June Jubilee celebrations. So far, 41 giants are

busily being prepared and the aim is to get to 60 giants on the streets in time for the Diamond Jubilee.

Communities from Cheshire, Warrington and North Wales have already come together to each work on their own giant and to let their creativity go wild so that their giants can represent their communities and make them proud.

Amongst the 41 giants already sold, there are Welsh giants in traditional Welsh Dress, a Handbag of Harmonies Giant complete with a giant pink feather boa and giant Kings and Queens. With just 19 giants left, this is a fantastic opportunity for volunteer groups to work together towards a shared goal and create something special that will last for future generations.

Giant groups formed across the region include schools from Blacon and Lache, Manchester Met University, Warrington Wolves Foundation, Chester’s Japanese Community and Cheshire Probation Groups.

Warrington Wolves Foundation inspires the local community by providing young people with pathways to participate in positive activities. They provide diversionary activities such as the giant making, so that the organisation can engage with young people to strengthen their communities.

On embarking on a Giant project, each group will be given a Giant Kit containing a fibreglass head, wooden flat-pack frame and wheel base. From there it is up to the group to decide how the giant will take shape and how to make it relevant to their community.

Criteria for the giant itself is strict and it should be no more than 14ft high, it must be able to negotiate the cobbled streets of Chester and must be built to last, perhaps 20 years or more. Once this has been achieved, then the fun begins as the groups can get creative with their unique designs.

Giant Chairman David Pickering said: ‘‘This is a fantastic opportunity for communities to come together and work on a project that will teach them new skills as well as highlight good work that has been achieved within their community. Groups from across the

region are already doing some amazing work and we hope that this will inspire others to get involved in such a British iconic event as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee’’.

Groups can make their giants unique by designing the costumes and accessories such as hats and handbags, royal ‘bling’ such as rings and tiaras and embellishments and flowers as well as the painting of the heads.

Kristine Szulik, the Giants Project Manager added: ‘‘This is an opportunity of a lifetime and groups who get involved with this will go down in history as their giant will live on for generations to come, representing their community how they wish to be seen’’.

‘‘The groups that have been working on the projects so far have got an enormous amount out of it. It has enabled them to work together in a way that they would not have had the opportunity to do so before and they have loved every minute of it.’’

Groups wishing to become involved are asked to contact the Giant HQ

on 07427 687944.

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