Art Pop-UP are VERY excited to announce that we have successfully gained funding to support our Cheer Circle Community Project from 2024-27!
The Cheer Circle is funded by the Lincolnshire Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Investment Fund.
What is the Cheer Club?
We’re a vibrant and inclusive group of six community groups coming together for a year-round program packed with exciting events and activities, forging new friendships and sharing laughter and support.
Come and join in! Connect with our wider local community at partner events, sharing the smiles further. Our Cheer Club events are an inclusive space where you’re valued, appreciated, and never alone. Let’s spread some cheer together!
Want to join the Cheer Club?
Joining the Cheer Club is easy! Simply email community@artpopup.co.uk* to let us know you’re coming to an event, or book directly through Eventbrite. Places are free, but donations to support the Cheer Club’s ongoing activities are welcome.
*Participants are also required to fill in a membership form once a year to fulfil our funding requirements, and provide an email address so we can contact you.
Could you be a Cheer Club Befriender?
Are you a friendly, welcoming person who enjoys meeting new people and building connections? Why not become a Befriender at our Cheer Club events! Befrienders play an important role in helping guests feel at ease, creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. Whether it’s greeting people with a smile, chatting over tea and cake, or encouraging others to join in with activities, your kindness can make a real difference. If you’d like to volunteer and be part of our cheerful community, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us for more information and help us spread positivity and connection.
What events have we got coming up?
Our 2024-25 programme runs from May 2024 – March 2025 and so far we have enjoyed a fun-filled schedule of socials, arts & crafts, games, talks and toe-tapping music. See what we’ve got coming up in 2025
Cheer Club meets Make Space! – Crafternoon – Sunday 19th January @ The Stamford URC Hall, PE9 1PJ – 2-4pm
Kick off the new year with some creativity and connection at our Cheer Club Crafternoon!
Taking place on Sunday 19th January from 2:00–4:00 pm at the Stamford URC Hall, this free event is the perfect way to brush off those January blues. Join us for an afternoon of making, including the chance to create cheerful characters with the talented Artist Ann Bellamy.
Plus, there will be a variety of other crafty activities, light refreshments, and plenty of good company.
This event is open to over 18s, but families with children aged 4+ are also warmly welcome.
Be sure to book your free tickets via Eventbrite HERE—we can’t wait to see you there!
Blue Monday Cheer Drop! – Monday, 20th January at 10:30 am
Join the Cheer Club this Blue Monday, as we tackle the January blues and brighten Stamford with some cheer!
We’re inviting you to help us distribute delightful paper pop-up characters, created by the talented artist Ann Bellamy. These cheerful creations are designed to bring a smile to everyone who finds them, spreading a little positivity and joy around town.
We’ll be meeting at Red Lion Square, Stamford (PE9 2AH) to start sharing the happiness. Come along and help us make someone’s day—let’s spread some cheer together!
Drop us an email at community@artpopup.co.uk to let us know you’re coming!
Our Next Social – Tuesday 21st January @ The Danish Invader Function Room – 2-4pm
Join us for a delightful Afternoon Social on Tuesday 21st January, 2:00–4:00 pm at the Danish Invader Function Room! The event kicks off with a 15-minute discussion from the talented artist Ann Bellamy, who will share insights into her art, the inspirations behind her work, and answer any questions you may have. Following that, prepare to be amazed by a magical performance from Dave the Magician, guaranteed to leave you smiling! As always, there’ll be plenty of tea, chat, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
This free event is for over 18s—email us at community@artpopup.co.uk
or book via Eventbrite to let us know you’re coming.
What have we been up to?
Throughout the year we have had a variety of special events. See what we’ve been up to so far this year.
Cheer Club Christmas Party
The Cheer Club Christmas Party was a truly festive celebration filled with laughter, fun, and plenty of holiday cheer, with over 70 people joining in the festivities! We enjoyed an amazing spread of food and refreshments, thanks to the generosity of George’s Food Hub and Askers Bakery, who provided us with delicious freshly baked cakes and sweet treats. A highlight of the event was a fantastic performance of Cinderella by Panto In A Day, which had everyone smiling and laughing.
We also played the hilariously fun Odd Sock game, where everyone had to find their matching sock before taking it home as a quirky keepsake. To make the day even more special, everyone received a goodie bag with the chance to pick out a couple of gifts to take away. And we even had a flying visit from the man with the big white beard himself, spreading even more festive cheer!
We are incredibly grateful to Alltech for hosting us in their wonderful venue once again. They provided all the tea, coffee, and cold drinks for the event, helping to make the party warm and welcoming for everyone. A special thank you to Darren for all his help in making the day so memorable—it wouldn’t have been the same without him!
Cheer Club Christmas Carolling
This holiday season, the Cheer Club brought the Cheer Club community together through a series of joyful carolling sing-alongs, spreading festive cheer far and wide. Led by the talented Darren Rawnsley, a creative practitioner and musician from Stamford, the sessions welcomed singers of all abilities, from seasoned vocalists to those who just love to hum along.
We hosted our first sing-along at Stamford Welland Academy, where we welcomes some of their choir to the event, making it the perfect place to start spreading festive cheer. At Alltech, alongside our new friends in the Stamford Welland School Choir, we enjoyed another cheerful sing-along in the beautiful Alltech building—thank you to Alltech for being such wonderful hosts!
Finally, we brought everyone together at Whitefriars Care Home for a heartwarming sing-along with the residents, creating a warm and welcoming space filled with music. Although the planned performance at the Corn Exchange during the Christmas Market was unfortunately cancelled due to bad weather, we made up for it at the Christmas Party with a sing-along featuring Santa himself. It was a joyful and triumphant celebration of the season!
Festive making sessions
In the lead-up to the festive season in November and December, the Cheer Club hosted some cosy crafting sessions at our venues as well as in the Stamford library where we made beautiful paper Christmas tree decorations. These handmade creations were gifted to the residents of Whitefriars Care Home during our sing-along performance, bringing a little extra cheer to their day. For those residents who couldn’t attend the performance, a huge thank you goes to Darren for delivering the decorations to their rooms, ensuring everyone could feel the festive spirit. We also used the decorations to add a festive touch to the tables at our Christmas Party, making the celebrations even more special. It was a lovely way to combine creativity, community, and holiday spirit!
Cheer Club Summer Party & BBQ
The Cheer Club’s summer Party was a wonderful afternoon hosted by one of our community groups, Vision, at the Stamford Cricket Ground. We are incredibly thankful to the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), who generously came and provided all the delicious cooked food for the event. Alongside their amazing efforts, there was plenty of tea, cakes, and snacks to keep everyone happy throughout the afternoon.
The event was packed with activities and entertainment. We created a cosy chill-out space with lots of cushions and blankets, offering a comfortable spot to relax. For those feeling more energetic, there were outdoor games like bubbles, giant Connect 4, and giant Jenga, which added plenty of laughter and fun. Hayley De Rito brought the entertainment to life with her upbeat songs, getting everyone dancing and singing along. There were even some silly games including a scavenger hunt, and some impromptu speeches and singing!
It was a warm, inclusive gathering filled with laughter, great company, and a real sense of community. A huge thank you to Vision for hosting, the RRT for their incredible support with the food, Hayley for her amazing performance, and everyone who joined us—you all made it an unforgettable afternoon!
Spring and Summer Socials
The Cheer Club hosted two wonderful socials at the Danish Invader during the spring and summer, each bringing its own unique charm.
At the spring social in June, we were treated to a stunning performance by Gabriella Pineda-Rodrigues, whose beautiful singing created a warm and uplifting atmosphere. We played board games and puzzles, giving everyone a chance to relax, chat, and enjoy some light-hearted fun over tea, coffee, and cake.
At the summer social in August, we were very lucky to have Joe, the Head Gardener from Burghley come and host a talk with us , sharing his incredible knowledge and stories about the gardens. Joe brought some interesting objects and plants from the garden for us to experience, and afterwards we held a Burghley-themed quiz, which got everyone involved!
The Cheer Club socials are truly special and welcoming events, offering a chance for people to come together, connect, and share joyful moments. We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us and made these gatherings so wonderful!
Cheer Club Kindness Cookies – Paper Fortune Cookie Making
The Cheer Club came together for crafting sessions in May and June 2024 to make beautiful paper fortune cookies, each with a positive and uplifting message inside.
Once they were ready, we shared them with everyone at our socials, as well as at a range of community events, including the Vision’s community litter pick, the Malcolm Sargent School and St Augustine’s School fairs, and gave some to Whitefriars Care Home.
It was a lovely way to spread kindness and bring smiles to people’s faces, showing how even the smallest gesture can brighten someone’s day. Thank you to everyone who joined in and helped make it so special.
The 6 Groups taking part
Stamford Library Community Group
Stamford Library kindly host our making sessions for our Cheer Club community sessions not hosted my our other groups. Anyone can join this group, just email us at community@artpopup.co.uk if you’d like to join in!
St Augustine’s Primary School
St Augustine’s Catholic Voluntary Academy is a school built on Christian values, with a commitment to high expectations for all. St. Augustine’s aims to educate the whole child; mind, body and soul. They help each child to discover and develop their own unique gifts and talents, so that they may live life to the full.
Malcolm Sargent Primary School
Malcolm Sargent Primary school in Stamford aims to provide the best all round education for children. Collectively, their approach is called “The Malcolm Sargent Way” and is centred on three core values, Engage & Inspire, Nurture & Growth: Pride & Joy
Vision Day Service
Vision is a Day Service and Supported living service for adults with learning disabilities.
Their aim is to promote inclusion, respect, friendship, and fun!
Blue Bird Care
Blue Bird Care specialise in working with customers and their families who require care in their own homes. They offer a unique service of personalised care options from check-in visits to full live-in support.
White Friars Care Home
Whitefriars Care Home offers friendly and compassionate residential and dementia care for up to 56 residents. The home is situated in a quiet residential location, close to the historic centre of Stamford.