If you've ever watched Disney's Robots, you'll know the philosophy: “See a need, fill a need!”
Well, that's rather how GYUP works. We see an opportunity, we bring people together, we use what we've got, and we see what we can make happen. It doesn't have to be complicated, expensive or perfectly planned. Sometimes the best things start with an idea and a few people willing to give it a go.
Halloween is one of those calendar events that means different things to different people. For some, it's all about the spooky stuff; for others, it's an excuse to dress up, have fun and spend time with the children, perhaps with a little trick or treating thrown in.
But did you noticed what's happening in Victoria Arcade? There was an awful lot of buzz around there. Things are changing, and certainly not through a lack of ideas!
I've often walked past the Men's Prep Shop and thought what an interesting idea. My understanding was that it was designed to give gentlemen – yes, you guys! – a little bit of pampering before the big wedding day or special event. There's so much attention given to the bride, but what about her amazing groom? Perhaps it hasn't quite taken off as hoped, but what a fabulous idea. And that's exactly the sort of thinking we love.
So, what did GYUP do?
We got together, had a think and, thanks to the fabulous Rick in Victoria Arcade, were offered the opportunity to use his beautiful shop.
And what a shop! Not only did it have a wonderful Halloween makeover, complete with coffins, tombstones, cobwebs, skeletons and various dead bodies, but it was an absolutely brilliant space. Goodness me, it even has its own little bathroom and kitchen! A massive thank you to Rick for lending it to us. It gave us the chance to try something a little different.
And what did we do? We invited everyone who could and wanted to get involved to come along.
A little bit of magic, a little bit of positivity
If you weren't there, you missed the opportunity to spend some time with Jax from Awakened Relm. Armed with her magic wand, Jax encouraged people to make a wish, learn three magic words and write their wish down. Whether you're six or sixty, put it under your pillow, remind yourself of it every morning and evening, and perhaps, just perhaps, it might come true. And if you missed Jax, there was the wonderful Caramel Elf, who used her teaspoon to conjure up a little positivity.
Sometimes we all need reminding that wishing, hoping and believing in something is a pretty good place to start.
Cake! Oh my goodness, the cake!
There was cake. And not just any cake. The most delicious cake, courtesy of our very own Pixie Fella, Dom. A huge thank you, Dom. You certainly helped make the day sweeter!
Making something out of almost nothing
The Arcade offers an amazing, warm, sunshine-filled space, and at the front we had all sorts of craft materials for people to make their own little phantoms.
- Loo-roll centres? Absolutely.
- Old milk bottles? Why not?
- Plastic containers? Perfect!
They might not have been expensive shop-bought decorations, but they were made by the people who came along. And that's the point. A little imagination can turn something ordinary into something quite special.
We also had pyrography – the slow, careful art of burning pictures and designs into wood to create something unique. People came along, had a go and, perhaps to their own surprise, really enjoyed it. I suspect a few would happily have stayed all afternoon! Steve from Pyrovision was on hand to introduce people to this wonderful craft, and you can catch up with him at one of his other spaces if you'd like to try it again.
And here's a thought: instead of buying somebody a present, why not make them one? A set of placemats, a keyring or simply a little personalised message. Something made by you can mean so much more.
Halloween, but with a little more help
We had young people coming in to fill their trick-or-treat pots, but alongside them were parents doing what parents do best: juggling, organising, hiding things and trying to make sure their children had the best possible day. And sometimes, behind all that, there are other things going on.
Perhaps someone needs a little help navigating the housing system. Wayne was there, offering a little card reading alongside something much more practical: support and advice to help people work out what to do next. People could leave with a little gift, but hopefully also feeling that someone had listened and that there might be a way forward. Others were looking for ways to manage their mental health and wellbeing. Dawn was there sharing the benefits of rescue remedies and the use of flowers and plants, creating space for conversation and understanding.
Because when life is difficult, and you need something to help you keep going, it isn't always easy. Sometimes alcohol or other substances can become a prop. Perhaps there are other, gentler and more joyful things we can explore too.It wasn't about having all the answers. It was about offering a different opportunity, a conversation and a chance to discover something new.
Our first little experiment in community problem-solving
And this is the bit that really mattered to me.
We weren't simply putting on a Halloween event. We were trying something.What happens when you bring together people with different skills, interests, experiences and ideas, and give them a space where they can share them? What happens when someone comes in for a bit of Halloween fun but discovers a craft they love, gets a little practical help, has a conversation about their wellbeing or simply feels part of something? We offered our first little foray into problem-solving with our community.
And I can honestly say we really enjoyed it.
There was no grand plan to solve everything. No complicated referral system. No expectation that everyone needed to sign up to something. Just people, opportunities, conversations and a willingness to help.
And then there was the phantom photographer...
Of course, no Halloween event would be complete without a few mysterious characters.
We had our phantom photographer, who may or may not have appeared briefly to sample the cake and deliver a label for our collection bucket! I have to include this because it made me smile. We didn't actually have a collection bucket. Paul had hoped to find one, but at the time it wasn't available. So, very kindly, he lent us a mop bucket. I'm not entirely convinced that was going to be particularly useful, so I headed off to the surgery. We even wondered whether a Halloween-coloured sharps bin might be appropriate, but decided that perhaps that wasn't quite the right look! In the end, we found a tin. And there, in a nutshell, is the joy of making do. You don't always have exactly what you need, but between a few people you can usually find something that works. And sometimes the process of getting there gives you as much to smile about as the end result.
Thank you, Great Yarmouth!
A huge thank you to everyone who came along, got involved, shared their skills, brought something, made something, ate something (especially the cake!) or simply stopped to have a chat. Thank you to everyone who smiled, waved and popped into the shop.
And a special mention to the wonderfully dressed young man who came in looking like some sort of Gorgon, devil or other fantastical creature – complete with hairy face and two horns! You were absolutely amazing! Most importantly, thank you to Rick and everyone who helped make the space available and brought it to life.
What's next for GYUP?
Well, that's the exciting bit.
GYUP isn't about being the organisation that does everything. It's about bringing people together, connecting ideas and making it easier for good things to happen.
Sometimes that means supporting a bigger project. Sometimes it's helping someone find the right person to talk to. And sometimes it's simply opening a shop, filling it with a little Halloween magic and seeing what happens. We talk a lot about community, collaboration and prevention. But these things don't just happen in meetings or on pieces of paper. They happen when people meet, when someone notices a need, when someone else has an idea, and when we decide to do something about it.
See a need. Fill a need. Together we achieve more.
And if you missed Halloween in Victoria Arcade, don't worry. There will be more opportunities to get involved. After all, you never quite know what might happen when GYUP gets together!