Bars in the Park: CHISPA CIC and Kings Jam Festival to Launch Dynamic One-Day Event in Gloucester ParkThe Bar Park Creative Project is a transformative youth initiative born out of a collaborative partnership between CHIPSA and The Venture Centre, funded by the National Lottery’s Million Hours Fund. This programme is designed to offer young people in Gloucester a safe, engaging, and inspiring environment during the October half-term (28th-31st October 2024). Through this initiative, young people will have the opportunity to participate in open-access, drop-in sessions that blend creative arts, physical movement, and music, all while fostering community connections and empowering young participants to express themselves.

Bars in the Park is a one-day celebration of culture, creativity, and community empowerment in Gloucester, led by CHISPA CIC and Kings Jam Festival. Launching on 12th October 2024, this event marks the culmination of four years of work and features two major highlights: the long-awaited Multipurpose Bar Park and the return of Kings Jam Festival. Taking place at Bakers Field, Gloucester Park (next to the Skate Park) from 10am to 10pm, the event will showcase performances, workshops and a freestyle movement jam from both local and international talent. Bars in the Park aims to empower young people and artists while transforming public spaces into vibrant cultural hubs for the community.

Support and Funding

This transformative event has been made possible by funding and support from Gloucester City Council, CHISPA CIC, Big Give, and Together Gloucester

The Great Outdoor Gym Company (TGO)

The bar park facility, a central feature of the event, has been built and supplied by The Great Outdoor Gym Company Ltd (TGO). A pioneer in outdoor fitness, TGO has been driving the boom in callisthenics—a form of urban gymnastics—since 2007. TGO's female founder, Georgie Delaney, MBE, expressed her excitement about the project:

“With bar parks like these, urban gymnastics is free and available to all. We’ve seen fantastic results in London, and we’re excited to bring this to Gloucester, opening up opportunities for fitness and fun across the UK.”

Empowering Gloucester’s Youth and ArtistsThe Bar Park Creative Project aims to:

Bars in the Park is more than just a celebration—it’s a catalyst for youth empowerment and leadership. It has been led by a youth team who have planned and organised the event, gaining invaluable skills in event management, creative leadership, and community engagement. This initiative creates a space for Gloucester-based talent to showcase their skills, while offering pathways for further growth in the creative industries.

A Packed Program of Arts and Activities

The event boasts an impressive line-up in collaboration with the Kings Jam Festival, featuring performances from nationally acclaimed artists and emerging Gloucester talent. In addition, the day will include:

• Community chase tag competition

• Parkour, calisthenics, tricking, and breaking workshops

• Showcases by renowned organisations such as Upswing and Your Next Move, highlighting the energy and creativity of Gloucester’s youth.

Local vendors will be on-site, offering food and merchandise, supporting the local economy and creating opportunities for small businesses. This event also represents the launch of an ongoing activation programme aimed at making Bakers Field a permanent cultural hub for youth, arts, and community activities.

Addressing Youth Challenges: Combatting Antisocial Behaviour and Supporting Mental Health

The launch of the Bars in the Park project comes at a critical time for young people in the UK. In recent years, the country has seen a significant reduction in youth services and funding, with closures of youth clubs and cuts to community programs leaving young people without essential support. These closures have contributed to a rise in youth mental health issues, antisocial behaviour, and youth violence.

This project aims to combat these issues head-on by giving young people ownership of a community space where they can build their leadership skills, develop as artists, and contribute positively to their environment. By creating opportunities for young people to engage in structured, meaningful activities, Bars in the Park serves as a proactive response to the challenges facing today’s youth.

Youth leadership is central to the event’s mission. The Youth Leadership Programme will equip young people with skills in planning, creative expression, and community building, offering a cost-effective solution to pressing social challenges. By reducing the pressures on public services and focusing on proactive, community-led solutions, this project offers a radical, creative, and impactful approach to supporting young people.

Partnership working and Collaboration

At CHISPA CIC, we believe in the strength of collaboration. Our approach takes from collective impact models and focuses on joining up programmes and services across Gloucester to ensure that young people do not fall through the gaps. In a time when funding cuts often lead to a siloed culture in the youth and community sector, we are committed to fostering integrated, collaborative working.

We know that collaboration enriches both our work and our development as an organisation. By building long-term partnerships and creating integrated opportunities, we maximise the potential of Gloucester’s young people, enabling them to develop skills, build leadership capacity, and take ownership of their spaces. The Bars in the Park event embodies this ethos of collaboration in our partnership with Kings Jam.