Corby Pole Fair 2022 organisers need your help with the celebrations

A consultation about the 2022 Corby Pole Fair will be conducted online and via phone to ensure that as many local people are involved in making it a truly memorable event for the whole community.

The Pole Fair is a major community celebration that takes place in the Old Village area of Corby every 20 years, with the next event due to take place in 2022.

Last year, a small group of volunteers came together to start to plan the next Pole Fair, and they have since been working with Made With Many, HD Media CIC, Corby Council and more recently ArtReach, who are helping to develop plans for the 2022 fair.

Helen Willmott, programme director of Made With Many, said: “Given the current Government guidelines, we have now arranged more consultation sessions for Corby Pole Fair 2022 that will take place online and we’ll try to rearrange our in-person events these once it is safe and legal to do so.

“In the meantime, we would still love to hear your memories, opinions and ideas as we continue to plan for the fair.”

A wide consultation was planned for autumn 2020, aiming to gather memories from past events as well as opinions and ideas of what the 2022 event should look like.

However recent Government restrictions meant that Made With Many needed to adapt to the new guidelines by providing a different options for local residents, community groups, business and schools to get involved.

Online focus groups have now been set up that will take place on Thursday, November 26, at 7.30pm and Saturday, December 5, at 2pm, with a session for schools also happening on Wednesday, December 2, at 4.30pm.

The sessions will all take place online via Zoom – the free-to-use internet-based video app that can be accessed on smartphone, tablet or computer.

Instructions on how to join the online focus group sessions are on the Made With Many website along with instructions for people who have never used Zoom.

For those who do not feel confident or unable to use Zoom, Made With Many are also providing the option to have a chat on the phone with their Corby Community Engagement Co-ordinator, Tom Briggs.

To chat about the Corby Pole Fair call Tom on 07923 221759, or text him to request a call back.

People can also fill in an online survey about the Corby Pole Fair 2022.