Little Doctors and Nurses Needed for a FREE Family Fun in Manchester!!

 Do you live in or around Manchester?  At the Imperial North Museum they have lots going on around half term for your Children!!
 All based on the events of the wartime, I can't wait for my children to be a little older to take them to events such as this.  It is such an important part of history that our ancestors went through!
  Here is the information...

                             Little Doctorsand Nurses Required For Free Family Fun

IWM North, Half Term 27 October 2012 – 4 November

Free Entry – Donations welcome

Ever wondered what it would be like to work as a doctor or nurse during wartime? Can you guess how many of today’s medicines were invented on the battlefield?

This October half term, at IWM North (part of Imperial War Museums), little – and big – visitors can learn all about life on the front line through a series of FREE family-friendly activities. From hearing the tales of stretcher bearers during the Second World War to seeing real human X-rays up close, there is something to entertain, captivate and engage all ages.

Younger visitors will be inspired by the work of doctors, nurses and medical teams as they get the chance to dress up, play and create their own souvenirs to take home. Visitors can learn to name parts of the human body and skeleton and learn more by seeing intriguing wartime X-rays.

Meet cuddly character Bumpty Bear and learn how friendship and first aid keep this clumsy character smiling or enjoy a family-friendly performance based on the story of a stretcher bearer or First World War nurse.

Part of Manchester Science Festival, IWM North will also be hosting live science demonstrations on 29 October, exploring themes including perception and human biology for all ages. 

Families inspired by tales of medical wonder can explore the Main Exhibition Space to discover the inspiring story of Private Charlie Hankins and his remarkable Second World War tricycle. Hankins was injured during the Second World War but used the unusual device to travel the length of Britain to raise money for charity after the war.  The story of Private G H Hobdey, is also guaranteed to captivate visitors - see his artificial leg on display, alongside a false eye worn by another injured serviceman of the Second World War.

Pocket money purchases from the IWM North shop should keep injury prone kids out of trouble for hours on end. Look Who’s Behind You Spy Glasses should help them spot danger all around, while little doctors will surely need a doctor’s notepad.

The programme, which includes performances, creative sessions, storytelling and much more, is inspired by a new exhibition for adults, Saving Lives: Frontline Medicine in a Century of Conflict. Saving Lives, running until 1 September 2013. It is IWM’s first to look at war and medicine, told through words and objects of people who have faced extraordinary situations.  

Graham Boxer, Director of IWM North, says:  ‘There are some amazing stories of human resilience and medical marvel for families to discover throughout IWM North.  Through our family activities, we have created a programme that brings these themes to life for the youngest of visitors in an engaging and inspiring way.’

For more information, visit www.iwm.org.uk

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DETAILED LISTING INFORMATION:

Visitors of all ages can get involved through workshops, children’s tours and activities.

Unless otherwise stated activities are free, drop-in sessions (places may be limited on the day). Activities are suitable for ages 5+ unless otherwise stated. An adult must accompany children under 12 at all times.

What A Performance

Saturday 27 and Wednesday 31 October

11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm

Main Exhibition Space

See one of our specially commissioned family friendly performances dramatising stories of wartime adventure. Themed to the subject of frontline medicine these performances include the story of a stretcher bearer in the Second World War (13 and 27) and a First World War nurse (31 October). Part of Manchester Science Festival.

Open Studio: Doctors and Nurses

Saturday 27 October
1-4pm, Learning Studio

Recommended age: 5+

Be inspired by the work of doctors, nurses and medical teams and make your own themed souvenir to take home and keep using a range of colourful resources. Get involved with dressing up, soft play and creative fun.  Part of Manchester Science Festival.

Open Studio: Bumpty Bear
Saturday 27, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 October,
1-4pm, Learning Studio

Recommended age: 5+
Meet cuddly character Bumpty Bear and hear about his adventures around The Quays.  Learn how friendship and first aid keep this clumsy character smiling and then make your own bear souvenir to take home and keep. This session is part of Manchester Science Festival.

Open Studio: Busy Bodies
Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 October,
1-4pm, Learning Studio

Recommended age: 5+

Be inspired by the work of wartime doctors and nurses and learn to name parts of the human body and skeleton in this creative session. See true to life human x-rays and decorate your own cut out body shape to take home and keep. This session is part of Manchester Science Festival.

Science Busking
Monday 29 October, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm

Main Exhibition Space
Live science demonstrations exploring themes including perception and human biology. This event is part of Manchester Science Festival.

Bumpty Bear
Daily from Saturday 27 October, 11.30am
Meet underneath the Harrier Jump Jet

Recommended age: 5 and under

Take part in this new family friendly storytelling session about Bumpty Bear and his adventures around The Quays.  Learn how friendship and first aid keep this clumsy character smiling. These sessions are part of Manchester Science Festival.

Story Time

Weekends throughout the month and daily from 29 October, 10.30am

Meet underneath the Harrier Jump Jet

Meet a host of charming characters and discover tales of adventure in these interactive story sessions. These sessions use a range of family friendly resources ranging from puppets, sounds and smells to archive pictures and replica objects.

TimeStack Handling Sessions
Sundays to Friday at 12.30pm and 3.30pm

Saturdays at 12.30pm ONLY

Main Exhibition Space

Recommended age: 5+

A great opportunity to get hands-on with objects from IWM’s collection in these themed 20-minute object-handling sessions. Join a member of staff for an opportunity to discover the stories behind the artefacts.

Action Stations: The Interactive Timeline

Visit the interactive family Action Stations around the gallery with activities such as exploring the smells and creatures of the First World War trench or revealing the power of the poster during wartime.

Your History - Explore Imperial War Museum online.
Ground level.

Personal stories and intriguing facts, family quizzes and tips for tracing people’s wartime history are all available at the online access area.

Café

Visit our wartime colouring in station in the IWM North café or play the camouflaged table football.

For further press information please contact:

Rebecca Barnes            (0845 0941 007  * Rebecca@mason-williams.com

Christine Quansah      (0845 0941 007  * Christine@mason-williams.com

Notes to Editors

IWM North

The multi award winning IWM North is designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind to represent a globe shattered by conflict. The iconic building, innovative and dynamic exhibitions, use of digital media through hourly Big Picture Shows and public events explore how war shapes lives and inspire and encourage debate.

Open daily from 10am - 5pm with free admission at The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester M17 1TZ (close to MediaCityUK Metrolink and Junction 9 of the M60) T: 0161 836 4000 E:iwmnorth@iwm.org.uk www.iwm.org.uk

Visiting IWM North with your family

We offer a great day out for all the family all year round with FREE ENTRY to IWM North, all our exhibitions and a wide variety of family friendly activities. We have free floor plans, trails, and regular tours to help you navigate our fascinating building.

We also have regular events aimed specifically at families including TimeStack Handling Sessions where you can get hands-on with the objects, and HotSpot craft activities, helping you to explore IWM North in more detail.

Within the Main Exhibition Space we have nine Action Station interactives and on the ground floor, our online area Your History offers more information about the collections, including games and personal stories.

We have free, self-operated lockers for your bags, lifts to all floors, accessible ground floor toilets and baby changing facilities. The WaterShard Café offers children’s portions and lunch bags, and colouring sheets are always available. A newly refurbished indoor picnic area is also available at weekends and in the school holidays for visitors to bring their own refreshments. The IWM North Shop offers a range of pocket money purchases including souvenirs and stationery items.

IWM

IWM (Imperial War Museums) tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War.

Our unique collections, made up of the everyday and the exceptional, reveal stories of people, places, ideas and events. Using these, we tell vivid personal stories and create powerful physical experiences across our five museums that reflect the realities of war as both a destructive and creative force. We challenge people to look at conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact on people’s lives.

IWM’s five branches are IWM London, IWM’s flagship branch with six floors of exhibitions and displays; IWM North, housed in an iconic award-winning building designed by Daniel Libeskind; IWM Duxford, a world renowned aviation museum and Britain's best preserved wartime airfield; Churchill War Rooms, housed in Churchill’s secret headquarters below Whitehall; and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.

First World War Centenary

2014 - 2018 marks the centenary of the First World War, a landmark anniversary for Britain and the world. IWM will mark the centenary by leading a vibrant, four year programme of cultural activities across the country, including the opening of brand new First World War galleries at IWM London in 2014. For more information visit www.1914.org