Summertime Sum Up at Nysa Projects, Planet Munch Puppets..

Welcome to the first edition of our news blog!

We will use this space to keep our community updated on the projects, partnerships, and creative work across our programmes.

We’ve been busy with exciting new community arts projects – From launching Omega Always, our ocean-loving eco-warrior mermaid, and preparing for her debut at the Harling Fringe Festival, to celebrating the heritage of the River Gade through the spectacular River of Light lantern procession in Hemel Hempstead. We’ve also got some exciting Trim Tots updates to share.

Its O-Fish-Al, Omega Always is making her voice heard.

Through a combination of digital and in-person engagement, Omega and her story offers families, schools and young people the opportunity to create, learn, and spark eco-conscious behavioural change.

Omega Always is many things, a sea mistress, eco-warrior, disco diva, avid recycler, and staunch protector of the ocean. Omega embodies the spirit of traditional mermaids; magically enticing yet foreboding and powerful. Our work merges ancient folklore of the Isles with contemporary themes to provide an opportunity to voice the concerns of young audiences. Omega herself represents kelp, which is rich in Omega 3 fats, a long-chain fatty acid, symbolising the connection between ocean and human health.

Omega is furious at the state of our ocean and waters, her natural habitat, and through her own savage wit begins to make small changes to save her home. Through a series of online shorts and videos, Omega puts a spotlight on important conversations such as ocean pollution, microplastics, and fast fashion whilst teaching climate literacy in a fun and interactive way.

The immersive journey of Omega Always will culminate in the creation of a touring puppet show, “My Element”, designed to entertain and educate audiences across the country. Omega’s first stop is the Harling Fringe Festival, where families are invited to a creative and interactive art workshop where we will co-create an underwater reef, using recycled materials and online learning resources. These creations form part of a larger interactive installation, providing an opportunity to participate in sustainability-focused artistry.

https://harlingfringe.ssboxoffice.com/events/planet-munch-puppets-create-an-underwater-scene-and-meet-a-singing-mermaid/

Read more about Omega and her journey here:

https://nysa.co.uk/blog/mermaid-on-the-loose-weve-started-to-release-our-new-series-of-shorts-a-work-in-progress-helping-us-find-the-voice-of-our-female-character-omega-always

Our River of Light festival.

On the International Day of Action for Rivers, we celebrated the River Gade, a rare chalk stream that has flowed through our landscape since the post-glacial period. Rising in the Chiltern Hills and winding through Dacorum, the Gade has shaped both the natural and industrial heritage of the area, powering mills, supporting watercress farming and providing a habitat for species including water voles and brown trout. The Gade was later diverted to meet the needs of Hemel Hempstead’s New Town development. As a result, many of its natural meanders disappeared, and wildlife habitats were diminished. Yet the river’s spirit remained. Landscape architect Geoffrey Jellicoe recognised its significance when designing Hemel’s Water Gardens, shaping them in the form of a serpent, with the River Gade forming its body, a lake its head and a fountain its eye.

Inspired by this rich heritage, this project combined creative community engagement with opportunities for local artists, volunteers and emerging creatives to learn new skills and contribute to a large-scale public artwork. Partnerships with Liberty Tea Rooms, Hemel Hempstead Library and No Ordinary Museum provided welcoming spaces for workshops and lantern-making sessions, while support from Dacorum Borough Council helped ensure activities quickly reached capacity. Over six weeks, more than 300 lanterns were created by residents of all ages.

The project culminated in a spectacular illuminated procession through Hemel Hempstead town centre. Led by the Mayor and accompanied by the rhythms of New Moon Morris, a river of light flowed through the streets. Every lantern told a story. Some had been created in our workshops, others at home, and many through collaborations between artists and community members. A giant kite lantern, crafted by a team of artists and volunteer makers, soared above the High Street. The evening concluded at the Rainbow Stage, where children’s lanterns representing homes, the Chiltern Hills and the fauna of the local landscape came together in a vibrant celebration. The River of Light was a spectacular integration of art and local heritage. Thank you to everyone who participated and made the event so special.

An update on our work at Trim Tots

Trim Tots Community Interest Company was formed to tackle obesity through the delivery and roll out of Planet Munch Healthy Lifestyle Programme, a university-born social venture that grew out of research at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. Backed by London Social Ventures and supported by UCL Business (UCLB), the programme is designed to tackle childhood obesity through creative, interactive education. Planet Munch is the only healthy lifestyle programme for pre-school children in the UK that meets all the NICE guidelines for prevention and treatment of obesity with evidence to show it is effective at reducing obesity risk up to two years after taking part.

We recently finished a programme at Edith Nefille School in Camden, working with parents and their children, generously supported by the London Social Ventures Programme. We worked with over 30 families over a 6-month period.

Planet Munch was tested through two randomised controlled trials and demonstrated success in reducing the risk of excess weight gain and related health problems in preschool children. Parents also reported increased confidence in understanding portion sizes, interpreting food labels, preparing healthier meals, and encouraging children to try a wider variety of foods, showing both health and practical lifestyle improvements.

Following this, Trim Tots is now building partnerships with additional schools and early-years providers, expanding delivery through the Planet Munch Digital Learning Platform and engaging with commissioners and policymakers to support wider adoption.

https://youtube.com/shorts/TwfxD07G0mk

Here is how the programme and its recent developments are structured:

Target Audience: Families with at least one pre-school child (under 5).
Session Structure: Delivered as 24 weekly, two-hour group sessions over six months.
Activities: Instead of standard lectures, it engages families through nutrition-themed arts and crafts, imaginary play, dance, interactive music, and practical adult nutrition sessions.
Digital learning platform – our new platform helps to train community-based facilitators and allows parents time to access videos and an interactive quiz outside of session times, leading to better learning outcomes and healthier families.

If you want to find out more about the programme, check out these articles:

https://www.uclventures.com/global-impact/case-studies/trimtots-fun-family-workshops-enabling-healthier-lifestyles-choices

https://learning.trimtots.com/

Social Venture Support & Impact

London Social Ventures (LSV): Trim Tots CIC was one of the ventures supported by LSV, a multi-university collaboration that helps early-stage social enterprises secure funding and adapt to frontline delivery.
Pilot Success: LSV helped Trim Tots scale from clinical research into local communities and trial the new digital learning platform. LSV provided business planning support and facilitated a successful pilot programme at Edith Neville in Somerstown, Camden, where more than 30 families participated in the six-month programme.
UCLB Backing: UCLB’s specialist Social Ventures team has provided ongoing commercialisation support, assisting with development funding and scaling the programme into community spaces including family centres and health hubs. The programme continues to expand through additional school partnerships, its digital learning platform, and engagement with commissioners and policymakers to improve child health outcomes across communities.
Are you a health practitioner, educator, or commissioner looking to run the programme? Are you a parent looking to find local Planet Munch sessions in your area? If you want to get involved, email kerry@nysa.co.uk

Take a look at some of our cooking videos, which help adults create nutritionally balanced food for their kids:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Id8zw2B-3NU

https://youtu.be/ltZcvJ-aQD4

Get involved

We’re looking for artists and freelance creatives to support our growing programme of community arts projects. We are particularly keen to hear from emerging artists and young creatives looking to gain experience in participatory arts, puppetry, workshops and events. There are also opportunities for fundraisers and admin support.

If you’d like to get involved, please get in touch at kerry@nysa.co.uk.