September has been a busy month for Whale of a Time. We have been shortlisted for the London Peace Awards 2010, NHS Lambeth commissioned us to run two workshops to evaluate community well-being in Lambeth, one took place at the Mayor's Thames Festival and the other at the Urban Green Fair and we had a whale of a time at the 10th anniversary of Stockwell Festival during London's Week of Peace.

Whale of a Time at London Peace Awards 2010

Irene Schleining, Founder of Whale of a Time has been nominated and duly recognised for her valuable contribution to peace and justice in London. Download certificate of London Peace Awards.

click on image to enlarge

The prestigious awards are a celebration and recognition of individuals and organisations who, through various initiatives and projects, have positively contributed to the peace and safety of London and are taking place as part of the London Week of Peace.

The Annual Week of Peace Awards Ceremony was hosted by Reverend Nims Obunge MBE DL, Chief Executive of The Peace Alliance / Freedom's Ark with the Mayor Boris Johnson as the guest of honour at City Hall, London 22 September 2010.

London Peace Awards 2010 - View Whale of a Time Gallery

On behalf of the whales we'd like to thank everyone who has, is and will be supporting Whale of a Time creating sustainable and environmental change for the London community while improving community well-being.

Community Wellbeing and Happiness in Lambeth with Whale of a Time

As part of Lambeth's Community Wellbeing Funding we organised two Whale of a Time Workshops. One was held as part of The Urban Green Fair, and the second was held as part of The Mayor's Thames Festival.

Both of these Whale of a Time Workshop were sponsored by the Lambeth Psychological Therapies Service, a part of the national IAPT programme run by the NHS Lambeth. The aim is to increase people’s awareness of ways to help wellbeing. We do this by engaging young and old in environmental issues through modelling endangered species in clay.

Our aim is to encourage people to live a sustainable lifestyle and be fully aware of the interconnectedness with our planet, which is providing life-support and ensuring well-being in a well-balanced and healthy ecosystem and society.

Lucy Smith, Public Health Manager at NHS Lambeth, said: “As part of the Lambeth mental wellbeing programme and work to improve access to psychological therapies, we have funded these workshops with the aim of increasing awareness of ways in which people can actively improve their wellbeing." Read more comments...

"By attending the workshop it enables individuals to be creative, meet new people and have some time out which can go a long way to improving someone’s mental health.” Read NHS news release.

What is mental wellbeing?

"To experience good mental health and wellbeing is to feel positive about today and to have hope for the future; to feel reasonably confident about being able to handle life's stresses and problems; and that mostly life is fulfilled and rewarding" 'Wellbeing and Happiness in Lambeth'

The workshop promotes community wellbeing in all 5 ways:

Connect: By connecting with our roots and our inner emotions

Be Active: By participating actively, expressing ourselves artistically and getting involved in a good cause for all of us and the future of our children

Take Notice: By taking notice and understanding and being conscious and fully aware of our relationship with our health and our environment

Keep Learning: By learning and understanding the human impact on the Earth and being the change we want to see in our community

Give: By giving and sharing our personal experiences in a community environment and using a positive attitude to improve community wellbeing

Click here to take our survey about community wellbeing

Nicola Petto, The Mayor's Thames Festival Programme Manager, said, "It's been really great having Whale of a Time here. I've seen lots of children have made clay models this weekend. It's been thoroughly busy and thoroughly entertaining and people have been able to make things and relax and do something quite creative but not too intense. It's been really really nice..." Read more...

Download News Release from the Mayor's Thames Festival.

Jim Wheble from BBC London radio came round and had a look at the Whale of a Time Workshop before interviewing us live. The high pitched sound must be the dolphins and whales coming on air taking part in the interview ;) Listen to the interview below:


We estimate 1000 people visited our workshop over the weekend at the Thames Festival. We'd like to thank both NHS Lambeth and the Mayor's Thames Festival organisation for the funding of the two Whale of a Time Workshops at the Mayor's Thames Festival, this all weekend experience made a huge difference to the local community. Creating space for festival goers to participate and explore their creative skills whilst clay modelling endangered species and connecting with the environmental issues we're facing today.

There are many lovely photos of participants and of their artwork waiting to be seen in the Whale of a Time Gallery.

Whale of a Time Gallery

Jacquie Levett, Project Manager Improving Access to Psychological Therapies at NHS Lambeth said, "I am so pleased it went so well and what a magic website! All those lovely comments from the children/participants and from the organisers of the events." Read more comments...

Mrs J. M. Williams said, "Thank you for sponsoring this event! My 6 year old grandson is really enjoying his first chance to sculpt a whale! N.B. My daughter has worked a bit for IAPT."

Nicola, teacher, said, "Thank you for organising such a fantastic event and I will be in touch after speaking to my head teacher regarding a workshop."

A. said, "This experience was really great! I loved it! It was the best event of the whole festival!"

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” We try to be the change we want to see, and we’re happy to encourage others on the way.

Whale of a Time at Stockwell Festival during Week of Peace

We’re proud that the Whale of a Time Workshop was present at this year's 10th anniversary of Stockwell Festival, which was taking place during London's Week of Peace.

This has been our third year having a whale of a time with the Stockwell community. We're excited to have contributed by giving back to the local community to produce sustainable and environmental change working with young people whilst improving community wellbeing.

Anna Godsiff, Stockwell Festival Coordinator said, "Armed with their new funky marquee, Whale of a Time brought sunshine to everyone, yet again, with their brilliant interactive clay model making activities. Fab, educational fun for all." Read more comments...

John McCay, Secretary, Stockwell Partnership said, "If we run it (next year), you WILL be there. Thanks for your stuff. Great as ever!"

Irene Schleining, Director Whale of a Time said, "Stockwell Festival was a hit and we were very pleased being busy and spreading the message. Thank you for having us back again this year!"

Stockwell Festival 2010 - View Whale of a Time Gallery

Participants comments' included: - Read more comments...

Joel said, "Fantastic as always."

Timea said, "I think it is a great idea to make children aware how important it is to look after our planet including these beautiful creatures that are on their way to be exhausted. Brilliant workshop."

We'd like to thank everyone who has participated in the Whale of a Time Workshop. Thank you for all the amazing feedback. Keep sharing and caring and have a whale of a time! Hope to see you at our next Whale of a Time Workshop.

Endangered Species : 10 - 30 South China Tigers left in the wild!

Some species, like the South China Tiger, are criticaly endangered with only 10 to 30 surviving individuals estimated to remain in the wild. The reasons for these dwindling numbers is down to poisoning and poaching for the use of tiger parts for Traditional Chinese Medicine and the loss of their habitats due to fragmented ecosystems. Both these man-made threats are leading to a dead-end genepool and a dying species.

This is only one example of many endangered species. We need to think of ways we can live responsibly without the cost of destroying the fragile ecosystem and all precious life. Life on Earth takes many forms, and all are intrinsically interconnected and share similar life cycles. Humans, plants and animals alike must adapt to their environments and depend on each other for survival. Today we are more aware than ever of how destructive our own actions can be.

What can you do?

The Whale of a Time Workshop aims to help people understand the benefits of existing in harmony and taking care of Earth's delicate ecosystem that we all depend on. Be wise and remember that you are voting as a consumer and whatever you buy - you'll donate to a cause in this world. This cause could be responsible for the extinction of an animal or plant species, and it coud be destroying the habitat of other lifeforms. Corporations may call it "resources" - reducing their actions to "business" and withholding from their moral responsiblilty of their actions. Don't be part of this destructive force by supporting unssustainable business. Support sustainanbility around the panet. Make a change. Be different! Have a whale of a time!

Become a "Friend of the Whale" by joining the Whale of a Time Community and help raise awareness while having a whale of a time!

Come to our next Whale of a Time Workshop and make your favourite animal species in clay and bring all your friends!

Stay tuned and subscribe to the Whale Mail!

We would like to wish everyone to have a whale of a time
& may all of you live in peace and harmony with our planet! :)