Parents proving science is fun with summer workshops for kids

The Imaginatrix workshops at Lukes Lane Community Centre, in Hebburn, are giving childrenthe chance to learn about science in a fun environment.

They came about after Hebburn mum-of-two Lorna Caizley’s son Shay, seven, asked if he could go to a science club during the school holidays.

The 35-year-old searched high and low but couldn’t find the sort of thing he was looking for.

So with the help of friends Siobhan Reavey and Emma Rumming, and her partner, Shay’s dad Paul Halveson, she decided to set up her own.

Siobhan, a mum-of-two from Hebburn, said: “Lorna’s son Shay is really into science and he wanted to go to a club or something over the summer, but all she could find was sports activities, so we started looking into setting one up ourselves.

“We had to do a bit of research about what we could do and also things like insurance for the group, but we got loads of help. St Joseph’s Catholic Academy even loaned us some equipment, like test tubes, so we could do some experiments, and Tesco offered to provide snacks.

“We’ve been doing all sorts, like making circuits with lightbulbs, looking at chemical reactions, making giant bubbles and volcanoes, and the kids have really loved it.”

The classes have been running at the community centre, in Lukes Lanes, for the last three Tuesdays, with the final one on August 16, but they could be set to continue.

Siobhan, an administration assistant, added: “We had about 18 kids at first, and now there’s no room left – it’s been really popular.

“We’ve had great feedback and we’re even thinking about continuing it if we can. It’s fantastic that Lorna had this idea and we’ve loved doing it. Paul and Emma have been a huge help in running the classes, and I think we’ve all had as much fun as the kids.

“Not all kids are into football and other sports, some like science and there was nothing out there for them to do.

“We’d love to do something like this more permanently if we could.

“If the classes continue to be popular then we’re going to look at if we could use the community centre on a more permanent basis and maybe star an after school club or something.”

Places on the Imaginatrix summer workshops are full but more could become available if the parents are ale to run the programme permanently beyond the summer holidays.