AN organisation at the heart of Camborne’s community has seen a huge increase in demand.

Camborne Cluster of Churches, who provide activities at five churches, have been running a ‘Tuesday Teatime’ club for families and young children for three years at Camborne Parish Church, starting with just a handful of visitors.

Over the past month the sessions have swelled to over 186 people, of all ages, attending as individuals as well as families, who come for a range of reasons – including its “holy hotdogs”.

With the mission of offering food, games and a space to talk, the Camborne Parish Church aims to proactively welcome its community – which has resulted in the Tuesday group seeing huge growth and importance, with many of its younger attendees affectionately calling it “Holy Hotdog Day”.

Becky Lines, families leader for Camborne Cluster of Churches explains: “We started Tuesday Teatime club three years ago, quietly at first, growing slowly. We focussed on food, games and talking. Attendees brought friends – particularly our teenagers – and the group grew little by little each week. We have been seeing rapid growth, especially over the past few months, and we now have a huge attendance as well as an amazing atmosphere from young people and people of all ages, including family groups.”

Becky continued: “The support of Arts Well CIC has meant the addition of arts activities to the group, run by our arts project leader Steph. Many of our younger attendees use the creative activities as a contrast to the rules of the school day, or enjoy there being no wrong way of doing something - moving focus from achievement to the experience itself.

“For some young people they are now in year 10 at school, where Art may no longer be part of their curriculum. Our sessions are nurturing, with adults treating young people as equals, in a safe space that they can attend independently without an adult family member.”

As well as more attendees, visitors are staying longer, to take part in the activities and chat, as well as pursue ideas of their own.

Activities can include badge making, bag decoration, stop-go animation and clay work, with volunteers serving pizza and hot dogs – hence “Holy Hotdog Day”.

Some of the original attendees used the group to set up Camborne Clothes Bank, whilst another – Kayleigh - now volunteers in the kitchen, providing puddings as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award; whilst others volunteer to gain experience for their CVs and references.

Kayleigh said: “When I first came I thought it was just giving out food and people would go away, but I love how they stay around and the happy atmosphere here.”

With such a successful weekly session, the Cluster is now looking to expand attendance at its weekly Wednesday morning Toddler Group held in All Saints Community Centre in Tuckingmill – where parents are able to have an hour for themselves to enjoy creative activities; as well as a weekly Wednesday afterschool club, where children from Roskear School and Rosemellin are particularly welcome.

The growth in activities has been supported by Arts Well CIC and its Community Partner Project. The Community Partner Project provides opportunities for people to meet and connect with others, learn new skills and build confidence through arts-based activities throughout the region, with venues and activities listed on their website at arts-well.com/projects/community-hubs/

Olivia Beckwith, development director for Arts Well based in Penryn explains: “We are supporting creative health practitioners to deliver regular sessions across Cornwall at Community Hubs. Camborne Cluster of Churches’ activities are seeing huge demand, and making a real difference to those in the area.

“Now joined by a total of six Arts Well volunteers, many of them art and illustration graduates and students who are working across the three clusters’ groups, the cluster project team have worked extremely hard. Their success is a testament to the safe and welcoming space that they have created. We hope their Toddler Group and second Afterschool Club will see a similar uptake.”

For further information regarding Camborne Cluster of Churches and their activities visit: cambornecluster.org.uk