Knowsley Enterprise Academy staged their second auction of art work on 27th February 2019. The work has been produced by children from primary schools across Knowsley and Palmerston School in Liverpool with the aim of raising money for Acorn Farm in Kirkby. This is the second Arts Festival run by Knowsley Enterprise Academy to showcase the skill, enthusiasm and creativity of school children and in doing so, to raise funds for a worthy charitable cause. 

Acorn Farm has been chosen as the recipient of any funds that are raised from the auction, in recognition of their work within the community and their work with people who have various disabilities. The first year of the Arts Festival saw £3,000 raised for Acorn Farm which at the time, allowed them to replace a horse used for the riding for the disabled programme which had sadly passed away and this year, the total was topped as we saw £4,600 raised for Acorn Farm.

The Arts Festival was originally launched by Cllr Jackie Harris the Mayor of Knowsley and for months the children had been working hard to bring their art to life. Around 180 children have been involved in the festival this year and their work has been hanging on the display in the Kirkby Town Centre of Alpha Taxis. 30 items of work were chosen to be included in the auction, which was carried out by professional auctioneer John Rafferty at North Mersey Business Centre in the Conference Centre. It is estimated that over 1,000 people viewed the artwork procuded while it was on show.

The Arts Festival was originally thought up by Your Travel Borough Wide and Alpha Taxis, as part of their social value package when they bid for the transport in 2015, when they bid for the SEN contract with Knowsley Borough Council with the aim of offering a more diverse and cost-effective service. Since which over 1,000 children have benefited from social value aspects of the contract including a travelling grotto each Christmas, free 2-night stays in the Lake District, producing films and the Arts Festival. All these social value projects include the school’s pupils together with those who benefit from the councils travel plan. All aspects of the social value contract have been offered totally free with the costs being covered by Alpha Taxis and Your Travel Borough Wide. Mayor of Knowsley Cllr Jackie Harris said “I am very impressed with the work that those who are involved have produced. The artwork is testament to the young people of the area. I have no doubt that the auction will raise some much needed money for a deserving charity.”