Join The Children’s Democratic Republic of Bridport

Friday night saw the official launch of a brave new world! The culmination of weeks of hard work from our summer school participants was the launch of our brand new country, The Children’s Democratic Republic of Bridport. And on Friday we opened the doors of our embassy in the centre of Bridport to an excited crowd. The new country was officially ratified by the Mayor of Bridport and our local MP, Edward Morello. Attendees applied for passports, sang the National Anthem, recited the Pledge of Allegiance and took our citizenship test, all while listening to the inaugural speeches from some of the ministers of the Republic. It was amazing to see so many people at the launch, acknowledging the hard work of the children and supporting their ideas of how to run a country better!

The Republic has already received letters of support from Sir David Attenborough, Prince George (as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales) and King Charles, as well as counting high profile celebrities amongst their citizens.

Inspired by an original idea from The Ministry of Stories in London, our summer school asked the children to imagine what a country run by children might look like and how it might be better than the examples we see around the world currently.

The embassy will remain open to welcome new citizens on Saturday 14th and Saturday the 21st of September. Come down and sign up to be a citizen, join the revolution and become a proud member of the Children’s Democratic Republic.

A huge thanks from the Children’s Democratic Republic to all those who made this project such a success. Firstly, thanks to our team of wonderful volunteers, Jonathan, Sara, Ambs, Ged, Robert, Jill, Lesley, Caroline, Jules, Mark, Diana and Carolyn. And to all the professionals who lent their expertise to help support the project, Sam Goss from Barefoot Architects, Nikki McCretton from Stuff & Nonsense Theatre, Hugh Dunford Wood, Jonny Fluffypunk, Becca & Kieran from Fabric Larder, Eddie & Milla: Comic Book Artists extraordinare and Claire and Jodie from Bridport Arts Centre. Thank you all.

Finally, to our amazing designer, Spike Golding, huge thanks for making the republic look so incredible.