The science of popcorn and beyond! Summer Cinema entertains communities
Monday 25th September 2023
From the science of popcorn to Super Mario Bros, over 100 children and young people enjoyed a brand new series of summer cinema and family fun at the Science Oxford Centre last August, raising funds and awareness for Wood Farm Youth Centre. Our Community Projects Outreach Manager, Sian Stratton, tells us more…
Summer screenings
We were excited to launch our new summer holiday cinema series, bringing together families from communities across Oxfordshire. Not only did we screen three hugely popular movies in our theatre, including Super Mario Bros, Matilda the Musical and Sonic the Hedgehog but we delved into the fascinating science behind popcorn and more, with hands-on experiments in the Exploration Zone! Visitors could soak up the sunshine at the outdoor Water Lab and woodland at the Science Oxford Centre, all while having a blast and supporting Wood Farm Youth Centre.
We really wanted to create a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere that would alleviate some of the summer holiday pressures on families. Our connection with the local youth group sparked a desire to give back to the community, and Wood Farm Youth Centre embraced the opportunity. Situated at the heart of Wood Farm, they provide essential support to young people aged 10-17 in Wood Farm and the Lye Valley areas of Oxford. Together, we successfully raised £157 for the youth centre!
Karis, a representative from the Wood Farm Youth Centre, shared their excitement: “This is a great opportunity and we’re really happy that Science Oxford has chosen to help us to raise money for our youth centre.
We’re in the middle of a refurb as the building looked tired and lifeless and more importantly the kitchen isn’t wheelchair friendly, it’s important to us that we make sure we’re inclusive and meet everybody’s needs. And the smaller bits to brighten it up and let the young people take control of the space and just enjoy being there. But ultimately, completion of a new kitchen will change the endless possibilities for some of our users.”
None of this would have been possible without the invaluable support of community voices from Wood Farm, who played a crucial role in designing the family cinema days, and the Association of Science Discovery Centres, whose generous funding made this collaborative endeavour a reality. Together, we were able to support young people and create fun days for families to remember!
