Animated children flock together to have fun

Posted: 19th July 2023

Children at a Penrith primary school enjoyed a grand day getting crafty with clay thanks to a local law firm.

EMG Solicitors arranged for Year 2 pupils at Brunswick School to join an Aardman model making workshop with expert tuition in how to make a clay Shaun the Sheep.

EMG opened in Penrith last year and immediately began exploring how its team could support the local community.

Director and Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate, Samantha Edward, said: “Claire Hewitt, our Head of Business Development, and I spent a lovely afternoon with the children and staff at Brunswick School. I’m not sure how good my clay building skills were compared with Year 2, but it was great to see the children enjoying themselves and engaged in crafting.”

“Supporting our local communities lies at the heart of everything we do at EMG Solicitors, so we wanted to share this Shaun the Sheep project with the children. The children’s models were brilliant and it was very difficult to choose a winner!”

Samantha, who grew up on a farm at St John’s in the Vale, added: “It’s really important that we are part of the community and as a philanthropic business we believe you should try and give something back. It’s why we have our Community Foundation Fund to which we give five per cent of our profits and invite any local community groups to apply for grants.”

Sam Waugh, Headteacher at Brunswick School, said: “It’s fantastic to have an organisation that’s new to the community wanting to build links with us as a local school. We are really grateful for the chance to offer the Aardman workshop to the children in a truly accessible way, without having to ask parents to contribute. We do clay modelling in Year 2 so it fitted really well.”

For one little girl, the day resulted in a special treat, with her modelling skills winning her a toy hamper, as well as a cuddly Shaun the Sheep.

EMG Solicitors is proud to sponsor the Shaun the Sheep on the Tyne Art Trail, in support of St Oswald’s Hospice and in partnership with Aardman and Wild in Art. It’s the third art trail that the firm has sponsored, where 45 large-scale, hand painted sculptures transform Newcastle City Centre and surrounding areas over the summer.

This year the sculptures are inspired by the much-loved star of film and television, Shaun the Sheep. Once the trail concludes in October, EMG’s very own Shaun sculpture will be transported to Cumbria and displayed in the firm’s Penrith reception for the community to enjoy.

For more details about the trail, head to https://www.shaunonthetyne.co.uk/

Full details of how to apply for our Community Foundation Fund are available on our website https://emgsolicitors.com/the-emg-way/community-fund/