Community Engagement

The Blake Cottage Trust relies on its supporters not just for funding but also for many practical aspects of the ongoing project to save the cottage and create a centre celebrating the lives and work of William and Catherine Blake. We have a large number of volunteers helping us with various aspects of the project from working on the cottage site to cataloguing our growing book collection. The trust also has an active programme of engagement with the local community in Felpham and the wider Bognor Regis area. Details of current outreach programmes can be obtained from our Project & Activities Coordinator by writing to the trust at info@blakecottage.org.

Recent Activities

Schools Competition

At the end of the school summer term our trustee Suzy Lloyd organised a competition in local primary schools inviting children in year 5 and 6 (9-11 years old) to create a picture of how the garden might look when the cottage is restored.  The children were also asked to write an appropriate couplet inspired by Auguries of Innocence to accompany their images.  It was a great way to introduce the children to William Blake and the place where he and Catherine lived so close to their own homes.

The winners of the competition will be chosen by the trust's Cottage and Garden Working Group which is advising the trust on how the cottage and garden should be presented when they both open.  The winners will be announced in early September when schools return.

You can see the 12 images in the shortlist below.

Other Activities

We have previously run a poetry competition and other media projects with local secondary schools.

In one of those school projects year 12 media students from St Philip Howard Catholic School interviewed ambassador Nick Tyson who shared his expert knowledge on the exciting renovations at the cottage.  The interview was conducted by Jack George and Eloise Jarman. It was produced and filmed by Alicia Shute and Violet Newman. You can watch it below.