Parents from across Lambeth attended a lively wellbeing and creativity event at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy, a secondary school in Brixton, today (Wednesday).
The free event was held in partnership with Ark Evelyn Grace Academy and Brixton Learning Collaborative and was designed to help parents relax and recharge.
Parents from a range of Lambeth schools including Loughborough Primary, John Keats Academy and Hill Mead enjoyed a variety of pampering sessions including chair massages and manicures, and guided meditation and self-care workshops.
There were a variety of classes run by organisations including Art4Space, Photofusion, JemStone Therapy, Sankofa to Nature, Stitching and NOPA, where parents could make watercolour bookmarks, mosaic coasters and take part in photography and music sessions.
Parents also had the opportunity to talk to representatives from community groups including the NHS, Fit Kids Healthy minds, Capital City College, Lambeth Parenting Services, Lambeth Elevate, Safer Renting, Thrive Stockwell, Lambeth Community Engagement, High Trees, Raw Material and Vauxhall City Farm.
Ark Evelyn Grace Academy Principal Una Sookun said, “I’m delighted to have hosted our first ever wellbeing and creativity event for parents. It’s so important parents can take some time out for self-care and to recharge – and to make valuable connections with community groups who are there to support them and their families.”
One parent who attended the event said, “I really enjoyed the mosaic class and the massage was amazing. I also enjoyed going around and talking to the different people here and learning about what’s in the community that I can join in with, and what’s helpful for my kids.”
Another parent said, “It was really nice to have something especially for parents.” And one added, “I’ve been so relaxed I didn’t reach for my phone all day!”
Emory Lavis, who was with the NHS team who were there to raise awareness of blood donations and sickle cell, said, “The event went really well. We’ve engaged with a lot of parents, including many who had never thought of blood donation before. We gave out a children’s book written by a local father and daughter tag team, about a little girl called Angel and her journey with sickle cell, so it was great to be able to raise awareness.”
Charlene Skyers was at the event representing Art4Space. She said, “Today has been great. There were lots of visitors who’ve all got involved and been really creative. Some have gone home with mosaic coasters they made today and others with watercolour bookmarks – and they’ve all learned more about what’s on offer in the local community.”
The wellbeing and creativity event follows a successful year for Ark Evelyn Grace Academy, in which Ofsted judged the school to be ‘good’ in all areas. Inspectors praised the school for being a “welcoming and happy” place where “staff care deeply that all pupils achieve both academically and personally.
Notes to editors
- Ark Evelyn Grace Academy opened in September 2008. Find out more about the school here: www.evelyngraceacademy.org
- The school was rated Good by Ofsted in May 2025. The full report is available here: 50275822
- The school is part of the Ark multi-academy trust, with 39 schools in London, Birmingham, Hastings and Portsmouth.
