BIG Porridge & Play
We’re very excited that Big Porridge & Play is BACK from 2020-2022!
Big Porridge & Play Glasgow (BPPG) was first launched in 2017, bringing diverse groups of families together in Ruchill, the Gorbals and Whiteinch for intergenerational imaginary play, food and connection. Licketyspit’s play is based on the Lickety Playcard repertoire and grounded in children’s rights, equality and the belief that everyone is creative and everyone wants to play! Thanks to the National Lottery, BPPG will continue until 2022, with the three existing community groups and three new ones…
Ruchill
Whiteinch
The Gorbals
Govan (NEW!)
Milton (NEW!)
Easterhouse (NEW!)
Big Porridge & Play ONLINE 2020
Licketyspit has been working hard to adapt our projects to support families to keep playing during lockdown.
We were very excited to deliver BPPG as an ONLINE project in 2020 via Zoom, with closed community sessions on weekdays as well as open sessions for families across Glasgow every Saturday.
Groups of up to 30 families meet for 90 minute sessions of imaginary play adventures in the Magic Ball, Funky Chicken animal invention, Flying Balloon journeys and lots more singing, dressing up and general hilarity!
The project was extended throughout 2020 thanks to additional funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and will re-commence in April 2021. Find out more about how the project was adapted online here.
What is Big Porridge & Play?
BIG PORRIDGE & PLAY GLASGOW is a unique project that originally ran for three years (2017-19), for families with children under 12 in Ruchill, Whiteinch, and the Gorbals. BIG Porridge & Play 2017-19 was funded by the BIG Lottery (now called The National Lottery Community Fund) and took place for 7/8-week blocks in April-June. Families met in large groups for Porridge & Play sessions of imaginary play and food.
What is Porridge & Play?
Porridge & Play was developed in response to parents and carers in north Glasgow whose children participated in LicketyLeap. They were astonished and delighted at their children’s confidence and creativity. They asked us, ‘how can we do more of this?!’
Porridge & Play was our response.
Porridge & Play is based on the Licketyspit repertoire of 38 games, rhymes, songs, traditional streetplay and imaginary play. It is designed for children and adults, to encourage continuing intergenerational play.
Each Porridge & Play session begins with a group meal including lots of delicious fruit, porridge for breakfast or homemade soup for lunch. Licketyspit actor-pedagogues then lead a fun and relaxed play session full of fantastic games, songs and imaginary play. The sessions are carefully crafted to develop children’s creativity, social skills, confidence and relationships. We regularly consult children and their adults about how we can improve and develop the sessions.
The games are illustrated in the Lickety Playcards, a set of 32 cards with song words, game instructions and colourful illustrations.
BIG Porridge & Play Glasgow brings families together in their local community centre for an 7-week block of Porridge & Play culminating in a Celebration Sharing Event.
BPPG 2017-19
We had such a fantastic time delivering BIG Porridge & Play Glasgow 2017-2019 with
wonderful families in Ruchill, the Gorbals and Whiteinch. A BIG thanks to all of our
Actor-Pedagogues, staff, our main funder, the National Lottery Community Fund, and
support from Esmee Fairbairn and the Robertson Trust, our partners, The Tall Ship and
The Dream Machine where we had BPPG Trips, photographer Eoin Carey and
filmmaker Jonathan Ley & Jacek Hubner, our volunteers & translators, and of course,
to all our participants!
Watch a short video about BPPG 2019!
BPPG Activity Films (2020)
While we’re all at home, tapping into our rich imaginations and playing together with our families is more important than ever. Families at BPPG can find all sorts of other useful & fun content on our website, from videos, games, imaginary play activities in Come & Play to child-friendly explainers about Coronavirus.
We also created an accessible, fun & educational Cooking, Making and Exploring video series with our actor pedagogues Taz, Jack and Iona.
There are 21 videos to watch, find them all on our Youtube and Facebook pages, or watch them here.
Big Porridge & Play Blog!
Read about each week’s session, see photos and find your drawings from the Lickety Art Gallery – Don’t forget to show your family and friends!
Happy Holidays! A Festive Final Week
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Feeling the love as Big Porridge & Play 2020 draws to a close
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
An EXTRA BIG adventure as BPPG 2020 draws to a close!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Dancing and singing with Adie Baako!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Andre and Taz share this week’s BPPG highlights!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Aye aye, Captain! All aboard our Pirate Ship!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Another chance to join our spooky party – from home!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Cakes, castles and Carrot & Cheese World!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Celebrating our many languages in The Hello Game!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Our latest play session – with 37 FAMILIES!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Witchy brews, fruit fairies and ghost trains!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
All the things we can still do while we’re at home!
As the restrictions around coronavirus continue, we know that many families may be feeling frustrated, stressed, or worried. We know it's a difficult time, so we wanted to remind you of all the things [...]
Spooky woods, a Wolf Queen, and a rainbow lake!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Chocolate fountains, angry animals, and letters to our loves!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
How YOU can help shape a revolution in children’s rights!
Why are we so excited? Last week, something happened which made us very happy here at Licketyspit! In a big document outlining their plans for the next year the [...]
A whole WEEK of BPPG adventures! Phew!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play Online blog, where we share the stories of all the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom! See below for details of how to [...]
Introducing Andre & Sanjay!
Meet our new team members and hear about their training experience in Andre's blog! Friday 4th September 2020 Working for Licketyspit is never easy but fun, [...]
Happy birthdays, baking cakes, and dancing on the moon!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play blog, where we share the stories of the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom. If you'd like to join our online weekend sessions [...]
Another (very big) Big Porridge & Play adventure!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play blog, where we share the stories of the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom. If you'd like to join our online weekend sessions [...]
Big Porridge and Play Saturday Sessions are back!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play blog, where we share the stories of the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom. If you'd like to join our online weekend sessions [...]
Ruchill & Milton Online Sessions
JOIN 17th August 2020 Big Porridge & Play Online community sessions are starting next month for families in Ruchill & Milton! These sessions are delivered via Zoom for families with 3-12 year olds. [...]
Over To You #4: Exploring and Making!
We've loved seeing all the imaginative things you've been up to over the summer holidays. We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has sent us their drawings, poems, stories, videos and photos so far. What [...]
Over To You #3: Cooking!
For the next few weeks, we're handing things over to you! As many of you will know, after our Zoom play sessions, and at the end of our Activity Films, we always ask people [...]
Over To You #2: Poetry and performance!
For the next few weeks, we're handing things over to you! As many of you will know, after our Zoom play sessions, and at the end of our Activity Films, we always ask people [...]
Over to you #1
Over the next few weeks, we're handing things over to you! As many of you will know, after our Zoom play sessions, and at the end of our Activity Films, we always ask people to [...]
Week 7: Sticky honey, speaking in Bee, and dancing on TV!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play blog, where we share the stories of the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom. If you'd like to join in with our open [...]
Week 6: A big Lickety goodbye to our wonderful new pals
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play blog, where we share the stories of the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom. If you'd like to join in with our open [...]
Week 5: Funky chickens, magic balls, and wolves with watches!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play blog, where we share the stories of the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom. If you'd like to join in with our open [...]
Week 4: Love letters, marshmallow monsters & a seahorse picnic!
Welcome to the Big Porridge & Play blog, where we share the stories of the adventures we've had during our virtual play sessions on Zoom. If you'd like to join in, all you need [...]
Week 3: Pirate Captains & Magic Ball!
Big Porridge & Play Blog 8th June 2020 Govan - Tuesday 2nd June 2020 The Govan posse got together yesterday for a bit of hang out and a lot of PLAY! [...]
Week 2: Freezing Monster Trees & Grandmas!
Big Porridge & Play Blog 1st June 2020 Govan – Tuesday 26th May 2020 FUN FUN FUN!!! Great play session last week!! We had a wee chat about our weekends while [...]
Saturday Sessions Starting!
Big Porridge & Play Open Sessions start this week! 27th May 2020 We may all be at home, but in our imaginations we can go anywhere, be anyone, do anything. All we need to [...]
Week 1: Meeting & Flying Balloons across the Sky!
Big Porridge & Play Blog 22nd May 2020 Govan - Tuesday 19th May 2020 Hiya everyone! What fun we had yesterday, right? Jack, Iona, Ruby & myself were so excited to [...]
Govan, Milton, Easterhouse Online Sessions
Community sessions have started online! 21st May 2020 We may all be at home, but in our imaginations we can go anywhere, be anyone, do anything. All we need to play is each other! [...]
Big Porridge & Play is Going Online!
Licketyspit Press Release 28th April 2020 We may all be at home, but in our imaginations we can go anywhere, be anyone, do anything. All we need to play is each other! Scotland’s pioneering [...]
Big Porridge & Play is BACK!
We are thrilled to announce that Big Porridge & Play Glasgow is BACK for another 3 years! We're very grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for continuing to support this innovate project and [...]
Big Porridge & Play Ruchill Week 7
15th June 2019 The final session in Ruchill was the last Big Porridge and Play 2019 and we were really moved and delighted to have so many people join us to send the project [...]
Big Porridge & Play Gorbals Week 7
13th June 2019 Our last session at the St Francis Centre was a wonderful celebration of what Porridge & Play can be, with families bringing countless delicious things to share in the meal, guests dressing [...]
Big Porridge & Play Whiteinch Week 7
12th June 2019 The last Big Porridge & Play 2019 at the Whiteinch library was the biggest yet - with nearly 60 of us singing, playing and dressing up together, before sitting down for [...]
Big Porridge & Play Ruchill Week 6
8th June 2019 We had a really fab sixth session at the Ruchill Community Centre. You could really see how everyone has got to know each other over the last six weeks, with the [...]
Big Porridge & Play Gorbals Week 6
6th June 2019 Week 6 at the Gorbals was a day for Pirate captains keeping things ship-shape on the open sea, storytelling and a surprise from poor Old Rodger. Everyone really at ease playing together today. We had some [...]
Big Porridge & Play Whiteinch Week 6
5th June 2019 With our sessions drawing to a close we want to make sure our last Big Porridge & Play afternoons together are fantastic! On Wednesday at Whiteinch Library we had exactly that! [...]
Big Porridge & Play Ruchill Week 4
18th May 2019 We are missing next week’s session not taking place because of the Bank Holiday so we wanted to make sure we had an excellent session of Porridge & Play today - [...]
Big Porridge & Play Ruchill Week 5
1st June 2019 We had a really wonderful Picnic & Play on The Tall Ship with the Ruchill Porridge & Play group last week. Ruby met some of the group to get the bus [...]
Big Porridge & Play Gorbals Week 5
30th May 2019 Travelling from the St Francis Centre in several taxi’s, we all managed to avoid the wind and the rain arriving at the wonderful and exciting Dream Machine on the London Road! [...]
Big Porridge & Play Whiteinch Week 5
29th May 2019 With the rain tumbling down and the wind blowing, we couldn't have our planned Picnic & Play in Victoria park, but we stayed and had a brilliant session in the Library instead, with a dressing up parade, [...]
Big Porridge & Play Gorbals Week 4
23rd May 2019 This week the BIG Porridge & Play Gorbals families set off from the St Francis Centre through the Gorbals and over the Suspension Bridge to play on Glasgow Green. We had [...]
Big Porridge & Play Whiteinch Week 4
22nd May 2019 Licketyspit travelled from the Whiteinch Library to The Tall Ship at Riverside for a brilliant outreach Picnic & Play session! We began our journey with delighting fellow bus travellers with an [...]
Big Porridge & Play Gorbals Week 3
16th May 2019 Our third session of BIG Porridge & Play Glasgow at the St Francis Centre in the Gorbals was very enjoyable indeed! Jack and Ruby were joined by Iona, our Lickety volunteer [...]
Big Porridge & Play Whiteinch Week 3
15th May 2019 Our third BIG Porridge & Play Glasgow at Whiteinch Library was brilliant – a great atmosphere and lots of great game playing! Jack and Ruby were joined by Iona and Asem, [...]
Big Porridge & Play Ruchill Week 3
11th May 2019 Our 3rd BIG Porridge & Play Glasgow session in Ruchill was a really great one! We played some great games, sang new songs and ate delicious lentil and carrot soup. You [...]
Big Porridge & Play Gorbals Week 2
9th May 2019 We returned to the St Francis Community Centre for our second BIG Porridge and Play Glasgow session in the Gorbals where we visited the tropical forests of India, met people with [...]
Big Porridge & Play Whiteinch Week 2
8th May 2019 We had our second BIG Porridge & Play Glasgow session in Whiteinch and what a session it was, with 14 families and 43 people attending altogether! We travelled around the world [...]
Big Porridge & Play Ruchill Week 2
4th May 2019 Our second Big Porridge & Play session at Ruchill saw us travel around the world, meet a shy sheep and got us to know some old Scots words for the different [...]
Big Porridge & Play Gorbals Week 1
2nd May 2019 Our first Big Porridge & Play session in the Gorbals was a lovely coming-together of new and familiar faces in the St Francis Community Centre. 35 participants joined us, with several [...]
Big Porridge & Play Whiteinch Week 1
1st May 2019 Our first Big Porridge & Play session in Whiteinch this year was absolutely packed - with 14 families and 50 people in total! It was great to see some families from [...]
Big Porridge & Play Ruchill Week 1
27th April 2019 Our first Big Porridge & Play session at Ruchill was wonderful - with a really buzzing atmosphere! We had a group of over 50 participants made up of current Children & [...]
Please stay in touch, send us a picture to put in the Licketyspit Art Gallery, or see what activities you can do in Come & Play!
You can email us at CFN@licketyspit.com or Tweet us at @LicketyTweet. Follow us on facebook and twitter to see photos of BIG Porridge & Play Glasgow and get our latest news.
