Orange ROCKCORPS

Where:Mint Street Adventure Playground

When: 28.05.2011

What: An absolutely wicked group of eager Orange RockCorps volunteers flooded into Mint Street Adventure Playground ready to spread some seriously sick colour and incredible artwork over this huge blank canvas. Gallons of paint later, the entire surrounding walls were transformed and our charity partner Jason was absolutely blown away with the results!

Sarah and Shemiah led Group 1 to transform the main wall, bringing it to life with a nature mural drawn completely free-hand by volunteers! Not wanting to be upstaged by Group 1’s amazing work, Group 2 led by Safia cleared and created the new bee-hive area where once stood an old graffittied wall and the resulting bee and nature mural was slick and beautifully eye-catching. Sam and Group 3 stepped it up even more and created a crazy jungle scene! The Tarzan mural looked amazing and the group still had plenty of time to hang from the monkey bars! Group 4 led by Leanne totally revamped the inside of the building, completing an awesome underwater scene, with a desert island and even an alien themed space room! Supply Co-ordinator Gillian really had her work cut out for her, dishing out paint at lightning speed!

DJ Sauly B kept the good vibes in the Orange RockCorps camp and the 100 strong crowd of all-singing all-dancing volunteers helped to create what could quite possibly be some of the greatest artwork ever painted at a RockCorps project! Despite grey skies, the rain even managed to hold off right up until the van was packed!

Best moment: The smug look on Project Leader Neil’s face when he saw the completed jungle mural that he designed J! And obviously seeing the kids that use the facilities come into the centre and see the volunteer’s handy work! Charity Partner Jason has invited everyone to the playground’s 40th birthday celebrations on 29th July! Give, Get Given!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Invicta Primary School

When: 26.05.2011

What: Today Orange RockCorps invaded Invicta Primary School in Blackheath as part of our Progress scheme, where you the volunteers decide which issues are important to you. Today's was education.
Despite the rain and thunderstorms 25 brave souls turned up to the project armed with nothing but a fashionable water proof poncho and pure determination.

Group 1 and 2 stayed inside and painted a pretty White picket fence for the vegetable patch, as well as painting cheeky cartoon vegetable signs and a welcome sign for the hall entrance. Also they painted old tyres which will be turned into planters and last but not least they painted a colourful fence for the nursery.

Group 3 dug deep and braved the downpour and transformed the outside areas by creating flower beds, weeding planters, planting flowers, moving bricks and being all round troopers.

Best moment: Working with everyone that took part today, with a special mention to Ashley and Jason.

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Katherine Road Community Centre

When: 26.05.2011

What: A group of willing volunteers braved the heavy rain to help spruce up the Katherine Road community centre. Although it started off as a gardening project we soon had to improvise and move indoors when the weather became to extreme. No problem for Orange RockCorps as Group 3 soon set about constructing their wormery in the community hall whilst the rest made themselves busy cleaning the windows and tidying up.

Best moment: Robby proud face as his beautifully constructed wormery was completed. I'm sure i could see a single tear run down his cheek. Never mind it's gone to a good home.

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Safia, Natalie, Carrick, Dan, Michal, Laila and Robby!

Where: Deen City Farm

When: 23.05.2011

What: Charity Partners, Jemma, Tom and Rose are completely over the moon with the effort and beautiful work our volunteers created at Dean City Farm. Although we had gale force winds not one person complained and we did have the animals from the farm to keep us entertained. Project Coordinator Sam took a great liking to a goat and has now named him Jason.

Vik in group 3 had the privilege of a volunteer with the name JACK DANIELS we are all very jealous of the name.

We found out Project leader Neil Grainey takes a photo of a AL PACA to the hairdressers as his hair and the animal are a spitting image.

In group 1 we were lucky enough to have the artist Maria who drew a beautiful chicken

Best moment: Although the wind was blowing no one stopped smiling and spirits were kept high throughout the 4 hours. Everyone earned their ticket.

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Gallions Primary School

When: 22.05.2011

What: On a warm Sunday morning, over 130 Orange RockCorps volunteers came to Gallions Primary School to do their part in what is going to be an epic 3 project makeover for the primary school.

The Beckton locals (and those who travelled further to be there!) came with bucket loads of enthusiasm, some with their 2010 volunteer T-Shirts on, proving that they left us with some great memories from last year.

The Gallions Primary School is located in an area of London close to the 2012 Olympics. The site is new but the Orange RockCorps army were undertaking more creative endeavours. During our first visit, the volunteers cleared the entire playground of weeds, and disposed of all the rubbish at the back of the school. The clear out was the first part of what will eventually be home to some brand new playground murals, pigeon holes for the class rooms and outdoor play equipment.

Best moment: Thinking about how happy all the children will be to the brilliant changes to their school!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Frederick’s Adventure Playground

When: 22.05.2011

What: A group of creative and hard working volunteers ventured down to Frederick’s Adventure Playground to give the place a lease of new life! With a great turnout on the sunny but brisk afternoon the volunteers painted the playground with sealing wood stain, freshened up all of the graffiti boards with a new lick of paint and created an amazing sign for the playground. The whole groups displayed a brilliant creative talent which will be remember for years to come!

A fantastic well rounded project with which everybody involved engaged themselves in a manner of activities amidst an immensely enjoyable environment!

Best moment: Watching the volunteers and crew find their inner child, enjoying the playground surroundings! Well done all for all your hard work!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Lee Valley Park

When: 22.03.2011

What: An eager bunch of volunteers got stuck right in, helping to weed, tidy up and paint the surrounding railings. At first the numbers were low but in true Orange RockCorps style the crowds began flooding in ready to do some hard grafting and have some fun. In the end weeds and hedges were no longer, an oversized grotesque tree got demolished and the railings were left gleaming with a fresh coat of paint.

Best moment: One of our Orange RockCorps volunteers made up a rap on the spot, which helped boost team morale and keep the team going to the end. It inspired others to start dancing and singing... Simon Cowell would have been proud!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Progress - Blenheim Gardens Estate

When: 21.05.2011

What: Out with the old in with the new; getting rid of those pesky weeds and adding some life and colour with some new plants. 32 is the magic number! 32 of the finest volunteers we could lay our hands on came down to revamp the area displaying some of the sharpest pitch fork action we’ve ever seen.. nice one guys!

Best moment: Chris getting a bit carried away with the watering. It wasn’t just the plants that got a good soaking! Apologies to all those victims that got in the way… Classic Chris!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Team Phoenix and all the volunteers who came down and showed such amazing support and such a strong work ethic!

Where: Timbuktu Adventure Playground

When: 21.05.2011

What: Today Orange RockCorps took over Timbuktu Adventure Playground situated in the heart of Islington. Our 100 strong group of volunteers were split off into 6 groups who managed to complete a mammoth undertaking of painting murals in the sports pitch, on storage containers, on the side of the building itself an we even touched up the great existing mural that welcomes you to Timbuktu. We also sanded the massive new and improved climbing apparatus, constructed a bespoke rabbit/guinea pig run, dug a fire pit, dismantled and old sandbox AND spread A mountain of mulch around the grounds. All of which was done in an up beat manor, linked to the energy of our inspiring volunteers which made the day the fly by.

Best moment: Great thanks to all that attended today, an special thanks goes out to charity partners who also got stuck in, Hop Scotch Girl for amazing art work, and also The Lads from Group 3 who worked incredible on the fire pit, sand box and the giant mountain of mulch.

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Streatham Vale Adventure Playground

When: 21.05.2011

What: With sun beaming down and the music pumping, Orange RockCorps exploded into a colour transformation! Streatham Vale Adventure Playground has now been transformed into a brighter, more colourful masterpiece and this is only phase one!

Every volunteer gave they're all and turned both youth huts into artistic delights. Play structures were updated with brand new colours and the graffiti artists sprayed the outside with a new title! What a day and how proud we are of each and everyone one of you involved. From Graffiti art, to tribal prints, to a hand drawn painting of the world.

Best moment: An all round successful day, the work will live on and we at Orange Rockcorps look forward to the next phase...how many volunteers can we get down there this time?

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Greenwich YMCA & Clockhouse Community Centre

When: 21.05.2011

What: Group 1 – Our intern Francene had a silent but deadly group who nailed all their painting and still had time to bust some moves to Douster Remix of King of Africa from Lion King!
Group 2 – Leanne had a gang of the biggest Jessie J fans in the world! Some of them even have Jessie J's lyrics tattooed on their arms and feet! That's dedication! We also had Paul Webb, a volunteer who was amazingly back for his fourth year at RockCorps!
Group 3 – A small elite crew of 6 managed to blast painting their corridor in style
Group 4 – The hardest working group by far, these guys weeded the entire site in the blistering sun and were still smiling at the end of the 4 hours.
Group 5 – Back-flipping Ash led the way for this group who managed to fit in a water fight, some impressive gymnastics and still make a garden in the shape of some cool headphones!

Best moment: Everything, the volunteers were all amazing!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Goldsmiths Community Centre

When: 19.05.2011

What: Catford representing in full force! The volunteers who came down to lend a hand at the community centre raised the roof with their inspiring hard work and energy. Fun all round with jokes left, right and centre! The place has been given a new lease of life with a fresh lick of paint updating the corridors, social room and sports hall, all of which badly needed a facelift. With the numbers not as high as we expected the turnout sped through the work set with not a single frown!

The volunteers all pulled together as a team to give the community centre the makeover it needed. There was a lot of energetic dancing, singing and painting throughout the whole centre!

Best moment: An unnamed volunteer who managed transfer white paint onto the freshly painted grey door using their bum!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Seven Kings Allotments

When: 19.05.2011

What: Before the RockCorps army arrived, the Seven Kings Allotment was a vast open space overgrown with mammoth six foot weeds and thorns!

In true Orange RockCorps fashion, our volunteers grabbed their weapon of choice (litter pickers/shovel/forks/spades/saws) as their 4 hours began and went about making the space vegetation friendly. They did the work, and we provided the music.

Many of the enthusiastic volunteers opted to concentrate on a plot of land for a local school that had purchased the area to teach the children how to plant vegetables. However, before they could do that, the area needed to be completely cleared of debris, and wildly overgrown weeds and thorns. In addition, some of the group ventured into unknown territory by building and painting a compost bin for the school. In one of the largest transformations seen so far (and the pictures prove it), the groups ploughed and chopped their way through the area, hacking and digging to make the ground viable for the school.

The music blasted and the sun shined, and four hours later the volunteers had cleared the entire area. We were undeniably shocked and impressed by how much work had been done in so little time. In fact, the next day the school emailed to extend their gratitude for the work the volunteers had undertaken.

Best moment: The (hysterical) hysteria that followed when two sixteen year olds discovered that they’d been digging up a red ant hill.

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: St. Dunston's Church Yard

When: 18.05.2011

What: A church has stood on the site for a thousand years but Orange RockCorps had just 4 hours to transform an overgrown part of the grounds and restore access to much needed outbuildings. The day started off with sunshine but soon the storm clouds gathered and emptied on us. A bag of were ponchos quickly distributed and the group quickly got on with the job without a gripe. Two volunteers even asked to come back and help on another project - they enjoyed it so much they want to take part again this year even though they know they can't get a second ticket.

Best moment: Everyone huddled together under the shelter of the Orange RockCorps tent and van during their break before getting stuck in for the last hour.

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Dan, Safia, Carrick, Natalie and Rozanna!

Where: Dormers Wells Nursery

When: 15.05.2011

What: Despite the weatherman spreading a vicious rumour that there would be rain, the sun still had his hat on for our eager Orange RockCorps volunteers! And what a fantastic bunch of volunteers they were!
Group 1 completely revamped the after school club inside and out, creating an awesome nature mural! Group 2 also seemed to have a great time, not only smashing through making, painting and filling some wicked sensory planter boxes, but also trimming and weeding around the whole site. Their Project Coordinator Sam even suggested an impromptu wheelbarrow race! We had some colourful characters in Group 3 that danced while they painted the main corridor, providing much laughter for the rest of the group whilst doing some much needed redecorating.

Best moment: I'm sure the Orange RockCorps massive will agree a great time was had all round and our charity partner Merlissa was over the moon with the results of everybody's hard work! Give, Get Given!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Bow Creek Ecology Park, Lee Valley Park

When: 15.05.2011

What: A large troop of volunteers lopped, chopped and raked their way through the overgrowth to reclaim a riverside path for the people of East Ham. Taking on the baton from the helping hand of an earlier Orange Rockcorps group the new team ran their wheelbarrows into the ground clearing away unwanted bushes and plants.

At the end of the day the Lee Valley Park Rangers had gleaming smiles on their faces after seeing that the Orange Rockcorps volunteers had achieved in 4 hours what would have taken them months to tackle.

Best moment: The arrival of a fearless and gigantic Swan brought the chain of wheel barrows to a halt for a few minutes whilst the Rangers tried to steer it in another direction. Although we were clearly on his turf he seemed pleased by the makeover we gave his home.

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Pooles Park Primary School

When: 14.05.2011

What: Poole's Park Primary School is a community school educating 450 local children in the heart of Finsbury Park.

Orange RockCorps and a group of 67 volunteers worked on building mosaic leaf tables out of rundown school tables, they also did some vital maintenance on the garden, harvesting compost, painting sheds and refurbishing benches. Up on the 3rd floor two teams of volunteers painted an amazing undercoat, which was once their canteen but will be turned into the new art room ready for a splash of colour.

The garden project, which is run by Sophia Loannou, aims to engage the local community in growing organic food and understanding the importance of a healthy diet. Sophia also teaches the kids of Poole’s Park Primary School how to grow and harvest vegetables.

Best moment: Victor and Hoang showed the crowd some amazing dances moves, motivating others to exhibit their dance skills. Thanks to all the dancing girls in Group 3 for be very energising and entertaining during the Zero to Fours hour. Great job on the amazing colourful mosaics you worked on so hard! Also thanks to Billy and Daniel for working really hard on the new art room. Well done!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Everyone!

Where: Tulse Hill Adventure Playground

When: 14.05.2011

What: As requested by our charity partner we have been asked to do some painting, design and create murals and perform some gardening. A group of 89 volunteers came down to Tulse Hill Adventure Playground to help paint murals add their creative flare to existing play equipment and carry out some gardening for one of our charity partners...and what an amazing job we did!

Best moment: Group three took a few moments out from decorating duties in order to break out some exclusive moves and grooves flavoured with an Orange RockCorps twist. Nice one gang!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Team Phoenix and all the volunteers who came down to give
back to their local community. Love it!

Where: Burgess Park

When: 14.05.11

What: Bursting with energy and determination, the OrangeRockCorps volunteers descended upon Burgess Park on a rain-free Saturday afternoon. Their mission, because they chose to accept it, was to pull together and make new home's for the highly endangered stag beetle. As well as creating the new homes, or "loggeries" as their known, we also cut back brambles, cleared paths and cleared up a small mountain of litter. Group one focussed on foraging and sawing logs to create a "loggery" as well as clearing the woodlands. Group two dug holes to create three "loggeries" – a great environment for the stag beetle larvae to make their home!

The transformation of the park was outstanding and by the time the volunteers had finished the park looked amazing and ready to house many a stag beetle Not overwhelmed by the workload the volunteers found time to sing and dance in the May sun.

Best moment: Watching "the Chuckle Sisters" attempt to manoeuvre a load of logs across the site. You know who you are. Definite FAIL!

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Doug, Nita, Tamara, Laura, Gabriella and Paul.

Where: King Henry's Walk Adventure Playground

When: 14.05.11

What: With a giant twister board, hopscotch & champ game, major gardening & clear out, bamboo trellises and an absolutely stellar paint job being the product of 4 hours work, the volunteers today came ready to get stuck in. We hoped the weather was on our side for the whole morning as the playground games were being painted and we definitely wanted to get a game or two of twister in before we left. Inside the play centre a complete paint overhaul beautified the corridors, toilet area and cloakroom and the transformation was nothing less than AMAZING! We opened up one side of the playground by clearing out the weeds and cutting back some of the plants and now all the hard work done today can be seen by anyone passing by, which is great!

Becky, the playground manager, was so impressed with all the work and took loads of pictures. She also said that a few of the kids were watching the transformation today and wanted to come and play straight away! Big thumbs up guys!

Best moment: The completion of the giant twister board put a smile on everyone's face and brought out the inner child in all our volunteers. Unfortunately it wasn't dry enough for us to play a game before we left but I'm sure the kids of King Henry's Walk Adventure Playground will have endless fun when they return after the weekend.

Thanks to all who Gave their 4 hours! Don't forget to check out the photos from your project, and stay tuned for exclusive gig info!

Thanks to the Project Team: Chris, Tamara, Simon, Briony, Hayley and our intern Jade.