Children from the Akeman Street Children’s Art Club have been spending the past few months creating memories through photographs, writing diary entries and drawing pictures about their experiences and feelings of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This fantastic work has now been collated and put into a time capsule, which has been buried by the children in the grounds of Cambridge Investment Partnership’s new development at Akeman Street.
Cllr Mike Davey, Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member said: “The children have taken a lot of time putting together their work for the time capsule and we would like to thank them for helping us create this lasting memory at Akeman Street. I hope in years to come people will find the time capsule and be able to reflect on what an extraordinary period it has been for all for us.”
As well as the work by the children, a facemask, some protective gloves and a copy of the letter sent by Boris Johnson asking everyone to remain at home have also been added to the contents of the time capsule.
Tom Hill, Regional Director of Hill commented: “This past year has been particularly unsettling for children, but this time capsule project has been a great way for the art club to spend time gathering up memories and thoughts and creating something that people will be able to unearth in years to come.”
Designed by Mole Architects, an existing older building has been replaced with 14 brand new council rented homes, consisting of eight flats and six maisonettes. There will also be three new retail units and a brand new community centre, which will open later in the year. Prior to the outbreak of Covid-19, CIP were aware of the importance of the existing local community centre to residents so arranged for it to be relocated to 39 Akeman Street whilst works continued, to ensure that popular community activities could continue.
