Made With Many is in a period of transition – we’re expanding into Wellingborough and have just launched our new name (we were previously called Made In Corby). We’ve also recruited new members of staff (over Zoom) who have been with us a couple of weeks and we’re saying farewell (until next year) to Vicky whilst she goes on maternity leave. We thought we’d introduce our new team and share how we’re all getting on in lockdown, to help you get a peek behind the scenes at what we’ve been up to and how we’re getting on. We hope you’re all staying safe and well, and can’t wait to see you all as soon as it’s safe to do so!
Helen Willmott – Programme Director
What you are busy doing at work?
I’ve been busy reporting to our funders, talking to our partners and most importantly, planning for the future of our programme. It’s a real challenge to plan for the future at the moment, so there’s lots of different versions in my head and I need to figure out which is most realistic. I’ve also been helping our new team members to get started in their roles, doing a handover with Vicky before she has a baby, taking part in video calls with colleagues from across the country and developing new projects, such as the work we’re doing with the Wellingborough Homeless Forum.
What is getting you through lockdown?
I had moved in with some friends just before lockdown began and they live in a beautiful rural village, so I’ve been on lots of countryside walks, playing football in the garden with their kids and enjoying their epic roast dinners.
What you are most looking forward to doing after lockdown?
Work wise, I’m really looking forward to buying the team lunch and being together in real life as opposed to video calls. Personally, I’m desperate to cuddle my niece, Mathilda, who was born just before lockdown started. I celebrated my birthday last month very quietly, and I’m looking forward to celebrating properly with all my friends and several bottles of wine!
Your biggest challenge during lockdown?
Honestly, I’ve been struggling with keeping focussed on work. I’m easily distracted at the best of times, without being at home all the time. I’ve been trying to set regular break times in my working day and keep to regular working hours, which has helped. I’ve also found the uncertainty of the situation really tough to deal with, both work-wise and personally.
My cultural recommendation to enjoy at home
I’ve been working my way through The World Atlas of Street Art and Graffiti – it’s partly research for a project in Corby, but I love looking at all the pictures of street art from around the world and imagining that I’m there. I’ve also been on a massive box set binge – rewatching old favourites like Killing Eve and Fleabag, catching up on shows that I didn’t have time to watch the first time such as Homeland and discovering new programmes like Normal People and White Lines. I’m also very excited that Bake Off The Professionals is back on TV!
Marian Anderson – Marketing Manager
What you are busy doing at work?
I’m as busy as always, between promoting projects such as #MadeAtHome, Corby Pole Fair, consultations and evaluations as well as some online learning and bringing a rebrand to completion (you’ll find out more about that next week!). I feel incredibly fortunate that most of my jobs are in ‘the cloud’, which allows me to easily work from home.
What is getting you through lockdown?
Quality time with my immediate family, phone calls with friends and extended family, the beautiful weather, watching the plants blooming in my garden, long walks in the countryside around Corby and binge-watching drama on TV. Also connecting on facebook, especially the Corby Gardens group as I like being nosy and seeing what everyone else is growing!
What you are most looking forward to doing after lockdown?
Going to my sister’s house for Sunday dinner (she makes the best gravy) and working on our quilting projects together.
Your biggest challenge during lockdown?
Motivation some days and keeping a good work/life balance whilst working from home…and bad hair – the time to visit hairdressers cannot come soon enough!
My cultural recommendation to enjoy at home
BBC Radio 6 Music is a brilliant soundtrack for working and I’m enjoying hearing old favourites (particularly from the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show) and discovering some great new music – you can hear my new favourites here.
Vicky Frayard – Producer (Corby)
What you are busy doing at work?
As Producer, I’ve been busy reorganising our projects, events and workshops that should have been taking place over the past few months and across the rest of the year. I’ve been checking in with our freelance artists too for a natter or to see how we can support them through this time. I am about to go on maternity leave so I’ve been working with Tina who will be taking the reins for the next 6 months.
What is getting you through lockdown?
It’s difficult to say what has been getting me through lockdown as I think, like a lot of people, we’ve just muddled through in the best way we can. Preparing for our new arrival has been nice, including spending more time with my husband – even though he’s used the time to reboard the loft!
What you are most looking forward to doing after lockdown?
After lockdown, I’m most looking forward to getting out and about, and getting back to the normal day to day activities. We had a holiday to Cornwall cancelled in April so having the chance to reorganise that will be lovely. Work wise – I miss our participants and volunteers greatly so I am very much looking forward to seeing them again.
Your biggest challenge during lockdown?
My biggest challenge has been the lack of social contact with friends, family and the wonderful work crew – including all of our regulars. I can’t wait to give everyone a great big cuddle!
My cultural recommendation to enjoy at home
After starting this ages ago, I have finally got round to finishing the book Be More Pirate by Sam Conniff Allende. A definite read for anyone who wants to question why and how we do things the way we do.
Sarah Brown – Producer (Wellingborough)
What you are busy doing at work?
I am really enjoying getting to grips with my new role as Producer for the Wellingborough programme. I am getting in touch with organisations across Wellingborough for initial chats and have been to a Creative People and Places gathering on Zoom with 57 people from other programmes across the country (which is probably the most amount of people I’ve seen all year)!
What is getting you through lockdown?
I have been coming up with creative ideas to keep my kids busy. I think I’m enjoying the painting, paper maché and mess-making more than them!
What you are most looking forward to doing after lockdown?
Being able to run events that bring the community back together, and spending some time with my wider family.
Your biggest challenge during lockdown?
Starting a new job from home during lockdown has been a new experience, but I think lockdown has made me appreciate how flexibly things can work.
My cultural recommendation to enjoy at home
I have been wanting to go back and explore the Natural History Museum for years and they currently have Nature Live online events on their website. You can also watch the previous talks on YouTube – my daughter Hope enjoyed the one about Hope the blue whale who is exhibited in the main hall of the museum.
Tina Heeley – Producer (Corby maternity cover)
What you are busy doing at work?
I’ll be covering the Corby Producer role in a freelance capacity, while Vicky takes time out to have a baby from June. My main focus will be looking at restaging the Time To…event which was put on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We hope to restage Time To… later this year in Autumn, and I’ll be looking at how we can make this event fun, accessible and relevant given the changes in how we are navigating our community work since the pandemic.
What is getting you through lockdown?
A couple of things are really helping my sanity which is running and yoga. I was grateful to be able to get out in the early stages of lockdown for my daily exercise and run around my local park, which I am lucky to have nearby. Also, taking online yoga classes has really kept me grounded and mindful especially during the height of challenging times.
What you are most looking forward to doing after lockdown?
I am really excited to work with people face to face again. I really miss that personal interaction I have with my groups within the community, and although I have managed to do some interactive online live and recorded classes; this can’t replace physically being with people and building those relationships.
Your biggest challenge during lockdown?
By far my biggest challenge has been homeschooling my two boys, age 5 and 8. There have been some wonderful moments, but trying to get them to be excited about learning at home has been quite the test at times – but who can blame them! Another challenge is my work having to be put on pause, as most of the groups I tend to work with are deemed vulnerable and in supportive settings. This has meant projects couldn’t be completed and regular classes stopped, which is unfortunate but understandable.
My cultural recommendation to enjoy at home
I would recommend Sadler’s Wells online dance stage events. These performances should have taken place on stage, but have since been reworked digitally so people can still enjoy dance and theatre from the comfort of their own home. There is usually a new live performance every Friday evening – go check it out on their facebook page or website.
Tom Briggs – Community Engagement Coordinator (Corby)
What you are busy doing at work?
The last few weeks I have started my new role as Community Engagement Coordinator and handing over some of my old responsibilities. I’ve been learning how to edit videos for our Made at Home series and starting to look at how we continue the programme through the Autumn.
What is getting you through lockdown?
I have been staying with friends since lockdown started which has been a great antidote to everything going on. We mostly play board games together in the evening and I’ve managed to get through a lot of great books including Margaret Atwood’s Testaments and Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology which have been on my list for a while.
What you are most looking forward to doing after lockdown?
I’m very much looking forward to getting a little bit more normality in my work day, even if that means more zoom calls with the community. I would very much like to be able to eat out again with friends though I suspect that is a way off.
Your biggest challenge during lockdown?
It’s a real struggle to keep focused on work with everything else going on. Cancelling so many events has been difficult, especially as many of those events were the culmination of projects that hundreds of local people have created artworks for. Though we are very lucky that as an organisation we are still able to find ways to make sure these works will be displayed and celebrated in the future.
My cultural recommendation to enjoy at home
I have been following the National Theatre at Home most weeks and it’s been fantastic to see some of the greatest theatre in the world streamed at home. So far my favourite has been the opportunity to see Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein again and I’m very much looking forward to seeing James Graham’s This House in the next few weeks.
Ann Leonard – Administrator
What you are busy doing at work?
Just now (end of May 2020) I’m busy learning about everyone and everything in my new job. Although I’ve been an Arts Ambassador for the organisation since the start, it’s very different being behind the scenes and seeing the processes involved in creating arts events that people will love. I’m already amazed by the sheer quantity of people who have seen our events.
What is getting you through lockdown?
During the isolation I’ve been (and still am) engaged in 3 art projects where the materials are delivered to my door. I’ve also been painting a large picture of an owl, which will end up in my garden. Despite being an indoor kitty for the last few months I’ve continued taking photos and at some point I will make an album of my life and times during the lockdown.
What you are most looking forward to doing after lockdown?
When the lockdown is lifted I’m looking forward to being at work in the town centre with easy access to shops and recreational venues. This is first for me and will enable me to meet up with friends in the local cafes. I’m also going to plan a trip with friends to somewhere lovely, in England and by the sea.
Your biggest challenge during lockdown?
It has been a challenge to stay positive during the lockdown – I was already job seeking as I had been made redundant at the end of January. I’d started college in February and, of course, that closed too. Hopefully I will be able to return to that soon. Staying in contact with friends by phone and on social media has been very positive and uplifting.
My cultural recommendation to enjoy at home
I’m thoroughly enjoying VR visits to museums and historic sites. As I used to work for English Heritage I still have an interest in archaeology, architecture and history in general. There is so much I haven’t seen and so little time; the development of IT has opened up the historic environment for me and I can admire the artwork of the millennia. I love Google – it finds wonderful things.
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