Raring2go! Bromsgrove & Redditch

BROMSGROVE AND REDDITCH MAGAZINE & WEBSITE THE GO-TO GUIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD raring2go.co.uk WINTER 2023 GET ACTIVE! COMPETITIONS! WHATS ON? MAGAZINE & WEBSITE THE GO-TO GUIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD

2 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! THINGS TO DO Capturing Children’s Imagination for over 15 years MUSICAL THEATRE CLASSES Sign up for a FREE TRIAL at www.thestarproject.info For more info: 07805 161533 | info@thestarproject.info ENROL NOW FOR THE NEW TERM Dynamic, passionate and professional theatre training across Worcestershire, led by a team of talented ar琀sts who change young people’s lives forever, helping them grow in confidence as they develop their performing arts skills. RISING STARS 4 6 yrs, 5pm 6.30pm MAIN PROJECT 7 18 yrs, 5pm 8pm RISING STARS 4 6 yrs, 5pm 6.30pm MAIN PROJECT 7 18 yrs, 5pm 8pm THURSDAYS Barnt Green Parish Centre Sandhills Lane Barnt Green B45 8NR RISING STARS 4 6 yrs, 5.15pm 6.45pm JR MUSICAL THEATRE 7 12 yrs, 5pm 7pm SATURDAYS Salva琀on Army Centre Ombersley Way Droitwich Spa WR9 0AB RISING STARS 4 6 yrs, 10am 11.30am MAIN PROJECT 7 18 yrs, 10am 1pm MONDAYS Whi ngton Village Hall Whi ngton Worcester WR5 2RQ TUESDAYS New Co昀on Village Hall East Works Drive & Groveley Ln Co昀on Hacket B45 8GR @thestarprojectworcester @thestarprojectco昀on @thestarprojectdroitwich @thestarprojectuk (Barnt Green) Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

3 Raring2go! THINGS TO DO Become a website member Sign up for FREE! Monthly email NEWSLETTERS with the latest OFFERS and EVENTS Download VOUCHERS and save £££’s Enter COMPETITIONS for amazing prizes! JOIN NOW raring2go.co.uk Copyright © 2023 Mojo Publishing Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission or further information should be addressed to the publishers. Whilst the publisher makes every effort to ensure that the businesses featured in this magazine are of the highest quality, we do not guarantee the services and products from any business featured. Printed by Gemini Print. Telephone: 01273 468884 l l l l Please recycle this magazine when you are finished with it. T: 07989 110318 E: bromsgroveandredditch@raring2go.co.uk Welcome to the Winter Edition! While your little ones may be wishing for snow, we have plenty of ideas to help make this winter a fun one, whatever the weather throws our way. New clubs to join, party ideas and of course days out with the family. We have lots of great competitions for you to enter. Plus our website is constantly updated so you can easily find what’s on near you. For more great ideas every month, simply sign up to our newsletters. You can also find Raring2go! Bromsgrove and Redditch on Facebook for what’s going on, local information and for you to share your own ideas and photos too! Wishing you all a fabulous year of fun, laughter and lots of family time. Raring2goBromsgroveandRedditch @Raring2goLisa Follow us on social media to keep up to date all year with your local #gotoguide for families. Lisa x

4 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! WHAT’S ON? 21st & 22nd January The Alexandra Theatre – Jurassic Live Featuring mind blowing special effects, a brand new show for 2023, professional puppeteers and the UK's most realistic dinosaurs this 90 minute full stage production isn't a show to miss! Jurassic Live really is the greatest dinosaur show on earth! www.atgtickets.com 29th January Bodenham Arboretum Winter Wassail Celebrating the age-old blessing of the apple trees. Traditional singing and morris dancing... bring along your own musical instruments and dress up with leaves and feathers! 12pm - 4pm. www.bodenhamarboretum.co.uk Selected dates until 31st March Drayton Manor Resort – Zoo Only Tickets Visit the zoo this winter from just £9 per ticket - and don’t forget, under 2’s go free. With 15 acres of open plan zoo, home to over 500 animals from all over the world, there’s lots to explore. You can even see some endangered species, as well as cheeky meerkats, adorable Red Pandas and beautiful Sumatran Tiger. Take a wintery walk around the fascinating zoo, as you see the animals venture out of their hiding places on quieter days. Why not wander down the Tamarin trail, visit the reptile house and even enjoy the roar-some Dino trail? Then take a break and warm up with a hot drink and food at Mrs Kyndley’s café. And what’s more, you can make the most of free onsite parking during Zoo only days – for the perfect day out this winter! www.draytonmanor.co.uk January - March West Midlands Safari Park Currently open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Reopens fully on 10th February 2023. www.wmsp.co.uk 14th January Wassail at Lickey Hills To celebrate and to ensure a good and bountiful harvest, go and join the Rangers in this centuries old rural tradition. Meet outside the visitors centre on Warren Lane at 5pm 19th & 26th January Ironbridge Museums, Jackfield Tile Museum - Tile Decorating Workshops Our ever popular Tube-Lined Tile Decorating Workshops are returning to Jackfield Tile Museum. Learn and apply the traditional technique of tubelining as you decorate your very own ceramic tile. Create an outline using clay slip, then fill the gaps with an array of wonderful coloured glazes. Once you've finished your tile it'll be dried and fired in a kiln at over 1000°C; collect your tile from the museum after a few days or arrange to have it posted to your home. Workshops cost £10.75 per person and must be pre-booked. www.ironbridge.org.uk Together, let’s make it count Play your part at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch The RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654. Blue tit by Alamy BGBW-23 Every birdwatch matters Join hundreds of thousands of others and take part in Big Garden Birdwatch - the UK’s largest citizen science wildlife survey. Sign up, connect with nature and make your birdwatch count. 27–29 January 2023 Big Garden Birdwatch TP25732 BGBW23 Blue Tit A5 ad portrait.indd 1 05/10/2022 14:54 What’s On: JANUARY 2023 Big Garden Birdwatch is fun, free and for everyone. And you don’t need a garden to take part! Counting birds from your balcony, or your local park will play a vital role in helping us understand how UK birds are doing. Sign up for your free guide and let's look out for birds together on 27th-29th January. www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

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6 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! THINGS TO DO WELCOMING NEW BEGINNERS FOR 2023

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8 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! ARTICLE 1. Save Money Check whether there are any restrictions on dates and times that you can use the pass, and work out when you would be available to go. You may only need to visit an attraction twice in the year to cover the cost of the annual pass. Thereafter, you will have unlimited visits which can result in large savings. Work out how much you’ll save by dividing the cost of the pass by the cost of a day’s admission, so that you know exactly how many times you will need to visit before you start saving money. 2. Year-round access to seasonal events Lots of attractions hold seasonal events and activities throughout the year, for example Easter Egg hunts, summer trails, Halloween and Christmas-themed events. These events may also be included in the cost of the annual pass, or available at a discount. The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust introduced its new PASS PLUS last year - a great value ticket offering unlimited entry for twelve months as well as a raft of added benefits. For more information visit their website. 3. Discounts in the Gift Shop or Cafe Check whether the annual pass holder benefits from other discounts. Many will offer a discount in the cafe or gift shop, which is great news when you are desperate for a coffee or for when it’s time to exit the attraction, and you have lots of pleading eyes from the children. 4. Other Venues You may be able to use some annual passes at other locations. Check out the passes that you can use at different locations throughout the UK - perfect for the summer holidays! 5. Quicker Entrance with Fast-Track At busy times of the year, the queue at the entrance of larger attractions can build up. A fast-track entrance is perfect to whizz excited children straight in without delay, and get started on the fun! This is perfect for families just wanting to drop in for an hour or so, which leads on to... 6. Short Visits Unlimited access means that you can go along for just an hour after school and not feel that it’s a waste of money. There is no pressure to try to race around and fit everything in each time you visit. Several short visits ensures that smaller children don’t get overwhelmed or too tired. Plus... you will be able to see the different theming at the attraction throughout the year. Why not consider buying an annual pass this year for the likes of Drayton Manor, Ironbridge or West Midland Safari Park. Attwell Farm and Avoncroft Museum offer these also! 6 Reasons to Buy an Annual Pass this Winter Why not consider buying an annual pass as a Christmas or Birthday present? You’ll be able to enjoy the spirit of Christmas for 12 months, and it won’t be a gift that you are picking up off the floor each day!

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10 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! THINGS TO DO

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3rd – 4th February Birmingham Hippodrome – Starchitects. Five children dream of reaching the moon from their bedroom. Join the Starchitects as they plan their daring mission. Will they succeed? And if they do, what will they find there? Full of fun and thrilling surprises, Starchitects, the new show from Motionhouse for children and families is engaging for audiences of all ages – everyone can enjoy and join the magical adventure. www.birminghamhippodrome.com 4th February Resorts World Arena – Arenacross Tour 2023 Arenacross is a show like no other. It’s a high-octane mix of indoor Motocross racing and Freestyle Motocross (FMX) badness and is packed to the rafters with all-round family fun and frenzied entertainment. It’s guaranteed to keep you on your feet yelling and hollering for more! www.resortsworldarena.co.uk 18th – 26th February Drayton Manor Resort – Dinosaur Breakout. A DINOmite experience – BOOK NOW www.draytonmanor.co.uk 18th – 19th February Telford International Centre – Shropshire Kids Festival. www.shropshirekidsfest.co.uk 18th – 26th February Stratford Butterfly Farm – February Half Term Activities. The whole family can enjoy the relaxing pleasure of walking amongst some of the world’s most stunning and colourful butterflies in a tropical rainforest setting, complete with fish-filled pools, splashing waterfalls and beautiful blooms. Meet the Mini-Beast handling sessions, Pupae and Beetle demonstrations will be held daily in the Discovery Zone. To guarantee entrance over half term tickets should be purchased in advance from the online booking system. www.butterflyfarm.co.uk 18th – 26th February Hatton Adventure World – A Panto Adventure. Panto returns to Hatton Adventure World this February Half Term. No need to worry about the weather! Stay warm and dry with our indoor activities including all-day animal handling, guinea pig village, scales & tails exotic animal experiences, a magical family show and our huge indoor soft play and slide mania centre. The action continues outdoors with the return of our epic laser combat battles, amazing falconry displays, mini funfair rides, giant helter-skelter and family games, and meet our animal friends on the farmyard walk. www.adventure.hattonworld.com 18th – 26th February Bodenham – Wizards of Bod. Can you spot the Wizards of Bod hiding amongst the trees at the Arboretum? Discover their spells and potions and read about their weird and wonderful characters as you take this magical woodland trail! www.bodenhamarboretum.co.uk 19th February mac Birmingham – Old Skool Disco. Get your Sunday afternoon groove on with the launch of our regular new family disco. Join the party (and still be home in time for an early night) with a DJ banging out the tunes plus mascots, glow sticks and bubbles. Fancy dress encouraged, though not essential. All adults must be accompanied by at least one responsible child! www.macbirmingham.co.uk 20th – 24th February Aspire Active Education Group – Holiday Camps Alvechurch School www.activecamps.co.uk 22nd February Redditch Palace Theatre - The Jungle Book Filled with original music, audience interaction, and bags of comedy, you are invited to join Mowgli and his friends, Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther, on a madcap jungle adventure as they meet and attempt to outwit a slithering snake, some cheeky monkeys, and the fierce tiger, Shere Khan! T: 01527 65203 www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk 21st – 26th February NEC – Caravan and Camping Show. The Show has everything you need for your next adventure! www.ccmshow.co.uk 23rd – 25th February Birmingham Rep – Tortoise and The Hare. The Tortoise & The Hare absolutely love games. www.birmingham-rep.co.uk 24th February Museum of the Jewellery Quarter – Kids’ Jewellery Workshop. Have a go at making your own piece of jewellery with the help of the friendly learning officers in this special children's jewellery workshop activity. Pre booking is essential as places are limited. Recommended for ages 8 and up. www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/jewellery What’s On: FEBRUARY 2023 12 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! WHAT’S ON

13 Raring2go! HOLIDAY CAMPS For more info visit aspire-sports.co.uk or call 0121 663 1979 Choice of venues and activities *Offer ends 5pm Friday 3rd February Ofsted registered Action-packed childcare this FebruaryHalf Term Open from 8am- 6pm BOOK ONLINE For more info and to book your place visit activecamps.co.uk or call 0121 663 1573 Alvechurch Alvechurch Middle School & Crown Meadow First School 15% OFF* with code FEB23A Monday 20th February - Friday 24th February

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16 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! PARTIES * Redeeamable Mon-Fri only – Ts & Cs apply Voucher Deal! BUY DIRECT FOR OUR BEST OFFERS £23.50PP FROM £13PP* 80 TOKENS & REFILL SODA SCAN THE CODE AND BUY NOW BUY 2 & SAVE EVEN MORE! 2534_VORTEX VOUCHER DEAL_RAIRING TO GO ADVERT_62x89.indd 1 21/09/2022 12:46

17 Raring2go! PARTIES mark@shoo琀ng4fun.co.uk www.shoo琀ng4fun.co.uk LASER TAG PARTIES Laser tag par琀es for kids from 6 yrs+. An exci琀ng combat experience in the great outdoors, at our 4.5 acre Oaklands Pursuits Centre in Hanbury. 90 minute session with 3 games. 12 to 24 players. Includes party invita琀ons. LET BATTLE COMMENCE For more information call Mark 01527 575141

18 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! WHAT’S ON What’s On: MARCH 2023 Until 5th March Compton Verney – Spectacle of Light. Discover the night-time wonder of Compton Verney through a wonderful Spectacle of Light and sound. Discover the night-time wonder of Compton Verney through a wonderful spectacle of light and sound. Enjoy this beautiful, illuminated trail through the majestic woodland and around the parkland all lit under the stars. Explore the stunning light installations, walk through the colourful Kaleidoscope, immerse yourself in Crocus and Ziggurat. Be amazed by the sparkling Light Beams across the lake. Take a moment by the house to tuck into scrumptious street food from Digbeth Dining Club. www.comptonverney.org.uk 10th – 31st March Drayton Manor Resort – March of the Dinosaurs. BOOK NOW at www.draytonmanor.co.uk. 10th – 13th March NEC – Crufts. Crufts is the world’s greatest dog show! Over 20,000 dogs compete for the world class title of Crufts Best in Show, enjoy fantastic displays, competitions, and shops. www.thenec.co.uk/whats-on/crufts/ 10th – 19th March British Science Week. This is a ten-day Celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. Find resources and activity packs to download online. www.britishscienceweek.org/ 12th March mac Birmingham – Nick Cope. Nick Cope has been writing and recording his beautiful and totally unique songs for children and their families for over 10 years, he performs with his guitar and animations to sell-out crowds all over the country. He has an incredible fan base from all over the UK which has just grown immeasurably over the last year due to the phenomenal success of his CBeebies show Nick Cope’s Popcast. His live performances are legendary! He has a fanatical army of little and not-so–little fans from all over the world, if you haven’t heard his songs or seen his shows before come and find out what you’re missing. www.macbirmingham.co.uk 24th – 26th March Birmingham Hippodrome – Dinosaur World Live Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child’s favourite flesheating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus! A special meet and greet after the show offers all our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend. Don’t miss this entertaining and mindexpanding jurassic adventure, live on stage. www.birminghamhippodrome.com 26th March The Shakespeare Express Family Special. With the option of two return journeys, one in the morning and afternoon visitors can travel from Birmingham in the morning for a day’s sightseeing in Stratford, approximately 5 hours and returning in the late afternoon or a round trip from Stratford to Birmingham over lunchtime and in the early afternoon with Sunday lunch on a heritage steam train as an option. These trains travel along the Shakespeare Line, a journey of approximately an hour in each direction through city townscapes and pretty Warwickshire countryside. Some trains will feature entertainment such as Murder on The Shakespeare Express and Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties. www.vintagetrains.co.uk 3rd – 15th April The Alexandra Theatre – Annie. Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. With unforgettable songs such as It’s The Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and Tomorrow, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll love it! www.atgtickets.com 13th – 15th April Birmingham Rep – Mog the Forgetful Cat. Everyone’s favourite cat might be forgetful, but she certainly has a lot of adventures, and she loves her family very much. Based on the bestselling Mog picture book series by Judith Kerr. www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

19 Raring2go! THINGS TO DO Book now at vintagetrains.co.uk The Shakespeare Express returns, running between Birmingham and Stratford upon Avon, with more dates to choose from for 2023 and time to spend in Stratford.

20 Raring2go! THINGS TO DO FREE 30-DAY TRIAL readingeggs.co.uk/r2gowinter Scan QR code for 30-Day FREE trial *This 30-day free trial offer allows you to add up to 4 children. You will be charged at the end of the trial period unless you cancel before this time. You can cancel any time by selecting the ‘Cancel Subscription’ option located on the ‘Manage My Subscription’ page in your family dashboard. Offer is valid for new UK customers only. Ages 3–9 Learning Maths Nurture an early love of maths with structured lessons and activities that build essential maths skills. Ages 7–13 Building Confidence Older children can continue building key literacy skills that will help them succeed in school. Ages 3–7 Learning to Read Children follow structured, one-on-one lessons that teach phonics, sight words and reading skills. Ages 2–4 First Steps Delight your toddler with fun games and activities that build alphabet knowledge and ready-to-read skills. Ages 5–10 Mastering Phonics Fast-paced lessons cover key phonics skills, perfect for both emergent and struggling readers. Try the multi-award winning online reading programme for kids aged 2–13. Reading Eggs makes learning to read easy and fun for young kids, and it’s proven to work in just 15 minutes a day. Perfect for supporting school learning and cleverly designed to grow with your child, 91% of parents see an improvement within just a few short weeks.

21 Raring2go! PRE-SCHOOL www.dramatots.co.uk Email: jo@dramatots.co.uk Or call Jo today on - 07738 969460 • Weekly Classes • Nursery Sessions • Parties • Special Sessions During School Holidays For children aged 18 months - 4 years CLASSES ALVECHURCH, BROMSGROVE AND WYTHALL!

22 Raring2go! OPPORTUNITY Could you be the next Editor of Raring2go! Bromsgrove and Redditch? Have you ever dreamed of running your own business, making your own decisions and taking control of your working life to fit around the needs of your family? After 14 amazing years, I am now looking for a new owner to take over the Bromsgrove and Redditch edition of Raring2go! magazine; a thriving and well respected local business. During my years as Editor, I’ve enjoyed discovering new places to visit with my family, reviewing shows at the theatre, and trying out new activities with my two children. By working for myself, I have been lucky enough to be there for the daily school run, attend sports days and nativities, and take time off around the school holidays. As my children are now older I feel it’s time to hang my hat up and start a new chapter. I would love for another local, passionate parent to enjoy the same experiences I have. However, it is important for me to find the right person to take care of my third ‘baby’, so I will continue to publish Raring2go! until I find that special person. While Raring2go! is a business where you work for yourself, you are part of a supportive franchise network, where there’s always someone on hand to give advice if you need it. No previous experience is necessary although an interest in the local community, an eye for detail and a tenacious attitude will certainly help. If you’re ready for a change in direction and have always dreamed of working for yourself, do get in touch with me for a chat: Call Lisa on 07989 110318 bromsgroveandredditch@raring2go.co.uk

COMPETITION TIME! Enter online at raring2goBromsgrove WIN a family ticket for Stratford Upon Avon Butterfly Farm Come rain or shine enjoy the unique pleasure of discovering hundreds of the world’s most beautiful butterflies flying in an exotic environment of tropical blossom with splashing waterfalls and fish filled pools. Situated in the historic market town of Stratford-upon-Avon. You will be in for a treat when you visit the Discovery Zone, the Minibeast Metropolis and The Maya. For a chance to win a family ticket to Stratford Butterfly Farm, head to the Raring2go! website, choose Save & Win/Competitions Closing Date: 13th February 2023 WIN x2 FREE tickets to The Bubble Show on 21 February 2023, at 2.00pm Join Mr. Bubbles with his extraordinary soap bubbles in all shapes and sizes! The Bubble Show is a unique blend of magic, storytelling, and bubble art! Enjoy bouncy bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, smoke bubbles, square bubbles, giant bubbles, and even fire bubbles! Suitable for ages 3-12 WIN a bundle of books from Nosy Crow worth over £250 RRP! WIN an incredible range of books for your primary school from awardwinning publisher Nosy Crow. Worth over £250 RRP, this fantastic selection includes fascinating nonfiction covering history, science, careers, the environment and much more, as well as engaging and entertaining fiction to foster a lifelong love of reading. WIN a family ticket to Thinktank We’ve teamed up with Thinktank to bring you a chance to win a visit with your family in our competition Located in Birmingham city centre, Thinktank is the perfect day out for all ages. Thinktank is Birmingham’s award winning science museum for fun packed family days out. With over 200 hands-on displays on science and technology. For a chance to win a family ticket to Thinktank, Birmingham, head to the Raring2go! website, choose Save & Win/Competitions Closing Date: 13th February 2023 23 Raring2go! COMPETITIONS For a chance of winning a family ticket to Countrytastic, head to the Raring2go! website, choose Save & Win/Competitions Closing Date: 17th February 2023 COMPETITIONS TERMS & CONDITIONS These rules apply to all the competitions in this edition of the magazine. The winner's of each competition will be the first correct entry or entries drawn at random. No cash alternatives to prizes. The winner's of each competition will be notified by telephone or email. Any personal data provided will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. It will only be used for the purposes of notifying outcomes of the prize draw. Your information will not be shared with any organisations external to Raring2go! or the competition provider except for the purposes of supplying you with your prize unless stated on the individual competition. Any other terms and conditions will appear on the individual competition of which they relate. Winners details will appear in the next edition of the magazine unless instructed otherwise by the winner. Becketts: Gemma O’Neil (photo) Ironbridge: Gemma Richards Old Rep: Fliss Miles GWR: Hayley Campbell Worcester Theatre: Kelly Seabourne WINNERS Festive Gift Fair: D. Pearce & B. Price For a chance to win this amazing book bundle, head to the Raring2go! website, choose Save & Win/Competitions Closing Date: 28th February 2023 What are bubbles made out of? A. Concrete B. Paper C. Soap Visit Raring2go! website to enter Closing Date: 13th February 2023 WIN family tickets to CountryTastic at the Three Counties Showground For a chance of winning a family ticket to The Jungle Book, head to the Raring2go! website, choose Save & Win/Competitions Closing Date: 13th February 2023 WIN a Family PASS PLUS tickets for Ironbridge Valley of Invention For a chance of winning a family Pass Plus ticket, head to the Raring2go! website, choose Save & Win/Competitions Closing Date: 13th February 2023 WIN a family ticket (which includes ride wristbands) to West Midland Safari Park For a chance of winning a family ticket to WMSP, head to the Raring2go! website, choose Save & Win/Competitions Closing Date: 1st March 2023 WIN a family ticket to see The Jungle Book at Redditch Palace Theatre. Wed 22nd Feb at 4.30pm

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