Over the Easter holidays, Damn Cheek returned to Dorking Meeting House for another week of creativity, play and connection. Volunteer co-facilitator Katy Nunn reflects on what made the week so special, with additional thoughts from local school staff who saw the impact first-hand.
“What did we see that we liked?”
The question was being asked of a group of 5 to 11-year-olds from local Dorking schools who had come together for a week of creative arts, as Damn Cheek returned to the Meeting House – bringing all the fun, creativity, noise and positivity that we’ve come to expect.
The week, funded by Surrey County Council and The Arts Society Dorking, was run by Damn Cheek’s Darren Cheek and Wambui Hardcastle, with volunteer helpers from the local community serving food, washing up and supporting the participants – as well as getting stuck into the activities themselves!
Each day began with a burst of energy: games, dancing and singing helped warm up voices and bodies as the group got to know one another. After a snack and some free time in the building’s beautiful garden – a space constantly alive with games and laughter – the children returned for more creative activities, followed by a hot meal eaten all together. The chance to sit down and share food, especially for families who might struggle, is a vital part of what Damn Cheek offers.
Working with such a wide age range is not without its challenges, but with Wambui and Darren’s expert encouragement, every child found their place. Reminded that “everyone thinks and creates in different ways – and so will contribute what they can manage to contribute”, the children gave each other feedback, supported one another and created original sketches together. As the week went on, ideas started to flow, and even the youngest children added personal touches to their roles, with the older ones helping them bring their ideas to life. This supportive space created a kind of ageless, creative equality that everyone seemed to feel.
On the final Saturday, the group had a chance to share their work with ‘their people’, as well as members of the wider community. As the audience took their seats it was beautiful to see the children so happy to be able to share with their families. Parents, friends and carers were invited to join in a couple of favourite games (if you’ve never played ‘zip zap boing’, I recommend it!) and the joy in the room was palpable as the children tried to get them out. Next, they performed their sketches, in the masks that they had painted themselves, and to the enjoyment of all. Darren summed up the aims of the project as: encouraging confidence and creativity, building connections and having fun. That certainly came through loud and clear.
To round things off, we all sat down once more for a final meal together – a lovely chance to reflect and say goodbye. As one mum told me while waiting for her mac ‘n’ cheese, her son had loved the week and couldn’t wait for the next Damn Cheek project. I think that says it all.
Jacky Fyson, Headteacher at St John’s Primary and Nursery School in Dorking, shared her reflections after visiting the project and speaking to her pupils:
“Children who attend St John’s were all thriving in this wonderful environment full of creativity, nurturing a love of the arts. Parents of the children shared that they were hugely grateful for the opportunity and noticed that their children came back oozing with confidence. One child said she has lots of new friends at St John’s now who she can play new games with in the drama zone at school; she had previously struggled with friendships.”
Fiona Watkins, Teacher and Co-Early Years Foundation Stage Lead at St Paul’s Primary School in Dorking, also visited the workshop and was full of praise:
“All the children I spoke to from St Paul’s and the other local schools were really excited about the week. It was so lovely to see them all working together… both of the adult leaders were so calm and motivated that the children were able to feed off their enthusiasm. I could see that they were growing in confidence as they stepped towards their final-day sharing.”
A version of this article was first published in May 2025 in The GrapeVine for Dorking Meeting House.