By Lucy Waldron
It was a day of creativity, colour and conversation. Warwick witnessed its first ComiCon Cosplay event as part of Youth Week festivities.
Held at the town hall on 10 April, the event attracted a diverse group of youths aged 12 to 25, who unleashed their imagination, armed with markers and sewing kits, to craft costumes that reflected their innermost selves.
The hall was alive with a kaleidoscope of costumes, from doctors to dinosaurs and the mad hatter to Minecraft characters.
The brainchild of Headspace, the response inspired the event garnered at their 2023 Cosplay parade, prompting them to elevate the experience to new heights.
Headspace Community Awareness Officer Jade Gilchrist said cosplaying is important to the kids as they are about to step into this persona and be something different, something unique.
“Cosplaying is actually very therapeutic for people. It’s a good marriage between being creative, diverse and having good mental health, we’re allowing people to just be free and express themselves,” Jade said.
A lot of the youth Jade works with through Headspace have high anxiety and social anxiety, so an event like WarwicKcon can bring them into a space with like-minded individuals who share similar experiences and interests.
In addition to the vibrant displays of costumes, stallholders enriched the event by providing goodies, educational games and freebies.
The overwhelming success of the event, marked by a sold-out crowd, showcases the growing demand for inclusive gatherings that foster a sense of belonging and connection among individuals with shared passions all year round.
