Chapter One – Everybody’s Home

Everybody’s Home was a specially put together Kit, packed full of fun things to do and resources and sent out free of charge to those living in Ashfield, Mansfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire. 

The packs also provided vital contact and service information about Coronavirus (Covid-19), especially for people in communities who may have been completely isolated or unable to access this information online.

So, what was in the Kit?

Everything but the kitchen sink! Well, not quite but we included plenty of things to provide entertainment and light relief during the first lockdown period.

We tried to create a package that catered for all ages. Activities were designed with both single households and those of more than one in mind.

The bumper kit includes activities and resources to provide light relief during the lockdown

Inside the lovely box was a bumper Activity Pack that had all sorts, ranging from Boredom Bingo, Lockdown Scavenger Hunt, and Head to Head – a homespun version of Top Trumps – to the Random Puppet Theatre, Create Your Own Comic, and a letter writing kit, part of which included a special letter for people to write to key workers – this may yet form part of a larger scale event later in the Festival.

There was also a specially-commissioned colouring book, capturing some of the lighter moments that became familiar during the pandemic, an isolation selfie frame, a time capsule to complete, and lots more. We included resources and materials for some of these activities too recognising not everyone was able to otherwise get hold of these.

There was also a handy booklet with Coronavirus advice, support and information for each district which we produced with support from the district councils.

Mansfield Market Place by Seanna Doonan, one of the images featured in the Go the Distance Colouring Booking.

Liv Auckland is one of many illustrators who have captured this unique time in our colouring book

A big thumbs up

We had a stonking response to the Everybody’s Home Kit and distributed nearly 2,500 kits to homes in Ashfield, Mansfield, Bolsover or North East Derbyshire. We worked with various partners to get the Kits out to households in the early days of the first lockdown.  As well as deliveries to the door, Kits were distributed via schools, food banks and similar.