LOTS OF villagers turned out last weekend to show that they Love Denholme.

Residents of all ages went along to the Mechanics Institute for the launch of the lottery-funded Love Denholme project.

Denholme Youth Cafe members showcased details of the £9,900 project which will celebrate local life through a photography competition and the creation of traditional fairground games.

Peter Foster, treasurer of the Youth Cafe, said there was an encouraging turnout last Saturday despite the wind and rain.

He said: “Most of the project team were there as well as the management committee, to tell visitors about the projects. We hope more will get involved as the project develops.”

Denholme Youth Cafe recently secured a £9, 900 grant for the project from the National Lottery’s Celebrate .

Mr Foster said the idea for the project was developed by young people from Denholme.

But he added: “Everyone in the community is invited to join in to celebrate Denholme and all the things that we love about our village.

“Young people are working with a professional artist to design Love Denholme art work and logo. They are keen that other young people join them to give a positive view of youngsters to everyone in the village.”

One element of the project is for young people to create traditional fairground games that can be used at all community events in the village.

Mr Foster said: “We want everyone, whether younger or older, to come together to help make games such as hook a duck, a coconut shy and a wheel of fortune.

“Anyone with a bit of artistic flair and older people with skills and knowledge they can use and share with young people are especially welcome.”

The second part of the project is a photography competition open to all local people, who can submit photographs of places in Denholme that they love.

Judging will be in September and the winning photographs will be made into a Love Denholme calendar in time for Christmas.

The grant will cover a project worker for weekly sessions, artists and craftspeople to teach the young people skills and design techniques, and provision for tools, storage and materials.

Denholme Youth Café is open to the public every Saturday morning between 11am and 1pm.

Mr Foster added: “It’s an ideal opportunity for all the people of Denholme to come together and celebrate our village and support the Youth Café and our young people."

Contact project leader Debra Peters on 07582 101849 for further information.