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536 Educators providing Courses

Craft4Smiles C.I.C.

craft4smiles c.i.c.

Papworth Everard

Craft4Smiles C.I.C. is a crafting community that provides inclusive, accessible high quality creative papercraft and mixed media online programmes for adults. Our courses are social and interactive whether delivered online or in-person. Our aim is to introduce and build crafting skills, improve wellbeing and to develop the basic skills needed for success in the workplace and at home, including self-confidence, problem solving, communicating in a group, basic maths and English. We teach over 45 different paper craft and mixed media techniques. Each course is carefully constructed to help you develop your crafting skills and knowledge.   Crafting and our courses are mindful, taking us away from the day-to-day. Participants have consistently reported improvements in their wellbeing.  Anyone who wants to learn new skills can join our programmes.  No previous experience of papercrafting or mixed media work is needed. We have delivered courses successfully in Cambridgeshire for 6 1/2 years and have worked with 280 Cambridges residents during this time. 86% of participants state that what we offer has helped to improve their wellbeing. 75% state that it has made a positive difference to their daily lives.   Our Courses:   1.  Short Courses: Standalone 3 to 10-week/session courses. Each 2-hour session runs sequentially so that  you can build your paper crafting and mixed media skills.  Currently we offer:  * Quilling: 10 sessions/weeks * Introduction to Paper Craft and Mixed Media: 10 sessions/weeks * Memory Book: 3 sessions/weeks * Memory Album: 3 sessions/weeks 2. From Beginner to Advanced Crafter available from January 2025: a 40-week/session long course delivered over approximately 13-14 months that follows on from the Introduction to Paper Craft and Mixed Media 10 week course. Each term should be followed sequentially, however, you can book in 10 week blocks. There is a discount of 10% if booking all 5 terms.  During this course, you will be introduced to over 45 paper craft and mixed media techniques and will learn about the vareity of paper craft and mixed media materials and equipment available and how to use them. By the end of the course, you will be a competent crafter and able, if you wish, to start selling/your own business. The equipment provided includes an electric A4 die cutting machine and a variety of dies and a scoreboard. and basic materials and equipment e.g. glue, a variety of tapes, alcohol pens, acrylic paints. You do not need any previous experience of paper crafting to join this course.  Fees for all courses include all the materials and equipment that you need for each lesson - supplied in a package with kits clearly labelled by week at the beginning of the course/term.  This means that you do not need to have any materials or equipment of your own. For all courses, the equipment and any leftover materials from all courses are yours to keep. Testimonial The first 2 cohorts on our online 18 month 'From Beginner to Advanced Crafter' course finished their courses in April. One individual provided a full A4 page of feedback. We are sharing that here - it is great to know that what we offer has an impact and helps. We hope that this feedback will encourage others to join us. Everything was made easy Enrolling Turning up to online sessions’ Having the equipment provided – so very well organised. The way the sessions were run encompassing everyone’s different pace and abilities. The welcoming atmosphere at the sessions. We all achieved the week’s task. This was important as I was struggling and would not have been able to deal with another thing, or complication, or something for me - so would have opted out. I was giving so much of myself elsewhere, to feel valued and be looked after was comforting, motivating and energising.  The lack of money doesn’t prevent attending. I felt welcomed in the group, whichever group I attended, and built-up rapport with the others in an easy going light hearted way – it was fun. I felt able to undertake the activity and supported throughout the session– Gray is just brilliant. This had a positive impact  There was no negative impact on me. I am grateful the sessions lasted as long as they did which I appreciate is difficult. It gave me time to feel the maximum benefit of improved mental health and general wellbeing, confidence building, skill and creativity development, and helping me to deal with everything else that was going on in my life. Specific When the flyer for the course was emailed me at work on a general circulation I read it and thought it sounded like something I needed and would like to do. I felt so drawn to it I contacted you to see if I was eligible. I was so very tired. Worn out with two years of covid emergency response work on top of my day job, pretty much spending 7-7 at my computer each day. In addition my sister was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and I decided to leave work in March 2022 to spend more time with her and care for her and support her children. Another member of my family was struggling with her mental health and I needed to spend more time with and supporting her too. Taking early retirement had a significant impact on my finances as I was only 60 and this was going to put pressure on us but as a family we agreed where my priorities needed to be. I was feeling overwhelmed, anxious and very low. The accessible, friendly, welcoming, creative space helped me cope. Initially it was time for me. Then it was something to look forward to and something to share. It was fun, relaxing and easy to lose yourself in making something and learning new skills. When things deteriorated for me, it was a constant and a safe, supportive environment. We may not have met the other participants in person but we soon bonded and cared for each other. It was Ok to turn up and not talk, not have your camera on, or to share sad news or how you were feeling. I will miss it and need to continue to carve out time for me to maintain the benefits going forward.

Brighouse High School

brighouse high school

Brighouse

At the heart of the Brighouse community is Brighouse High School and we are delighted to start a new academic year on the front foot with you all, looking forward to another successful year working together. The summer results showed the determination and resilience of our students and staff and we were delighted to see our Year 11 and Year 13 cohorts secure the qualifications they needed to take those important next steps in life. Even more satisfying, perhaps, was seeing the development of those young people over the years into young adults ready to contribute to society. Despite the continuing difficulties of last year, our school and our community continued to thrive and we are proud of all of their achievements. A particular highlight of last year was the relaunching of our wide and varied extra –curricular activities and our trips and visits. Everyone was delighted to see the Lakes trip back in the calendar and the Year 7 students had a wonderful week up in the Lake District during that final week of June. There have also been other trips out to the coast for coursework studies in Geography and to Doe Park and Bradley Woods for outdoor pursuits as well as planning ahead for the return of the Berlin trip and the Ski trip. As we took the step back to formal examinations, we saw the incredible achievements of our students who have worked hard for many years to secure the richly deserved outcomes from the key stage 4 and key stage 5 examinations. As always, I am delighted to say that Brighouse High School students are heading into the wider world to embrace their next challenges, whether that be with us for two more years in our sixth form, in college, university or employment and the school continued to strengthen the qualification outcomes in many key areas. In our vibrant and successful sixth form college there were outstanding results in academic and vocational qualifications and our post-16 students moved on to their places in higher education, employment or training. In key stage 4 we were delighted to see that the majority of our students achieved the important GCSE benchmark qualifications in English and Maths, the vital springboard into their next stages in education and life beyond school, and succeeded across our rich creative curriculum too. As always though, I am sure that you will agree that our school is about so much more than just qualifications. From the moment our Year 7 students step foot across the threshold, they are challenged to contribute and to achieve within a warm, caring and supportive environment. The opportunities within and beyond the traditional curriculum are rich and diverse at Brighouse High School; we encourage all of our students to become part of our community and build on the sense of togetherness, which is so important to us, and importantly recognised by those who visit us. Ofsted recognised the strength of relationships in our school when we were inspected in February of this year, commenting that ‘positive relationships are a cornerstone of the school’ and recognising that ‘everyone cares at Brighouse’. It is on the firm foundations of these relationships that we build our success with our students and the community. We will continue to deliver strong classroom practice within an appropriate and personalised curriculum, a positive ethos and behaviour and, with support from home, we will continue to deliver successful outcomes for all.

Roundwood Park School

roundwood park school

Hertfordshire

With Grammar schools in nearby St Albans, that meant that it was in reality a secondary modern school although as its pupils reached school leaving age (15 in those days) it soon became apparent that many wanted to stay on into the fifth year and take ‘O’ levels so that facility was provided. The school opened with three teaching blocks – still recognizable as ‘B’ block, ‘C’ block and the hall, gym etc. where the staff room and offices were. There were three forms, one in each of the second, third and fourth years and three first year forms, making a total of 179 pupils. There were ten teachers including the first head teacher – Mr Arthur Foxwell. The school was organised into four houses – Braille, Campbell, Grenfell and Nightingale – thus providing a competitive element for the popular Sports Day and, from 1961 when the town’s pool was opened, the Swimming Gala. After three years, the school had reached its planned maximum size but often exceeded that over subsequent years due to its increasing popularity with local residents as well as those in Wheathampstead and Redbourn. Now we receive many pupils from the other villages – Markyate, Flamstead and Kimpton. This is partly due to the closure of smaller secondary schools in Redbourn and Wheathampstead so that the ‘economies of scale’ can be taken advantage of, full comprehensive provision within Hertfordshire and also due to parental preference. Mr Foxwell retired in 1976 after 20 years as Headteacher and Mr Turnbull took over for 2 years, being followed by Mr Haydon Luke who stayed for 17 years. Andy Cunningham stayed for 6 years and was replaced by Mr Nick Daymond who also stayed for 6 years until he was succeeded by the current Headteacher, Mr Alan Henshall. At various times in between, the Deputy Heads have held the fort – Mr Lucas, Mr Surtees and Ms Linda Graham – all contributing to the continuity and stability that have been part of the Roundwood ethos. Roundwood21There have been many changes over the past 60 years resulting in upheaval and disruption – increasingly frequent times when the site appeared more like a building site as a new Sixth Form/Modern Foreign Languages block was constructed, soon to be followed by a new Maths/Music building and a Sports Centre. The school is also now an Academy. The changes have not affected the ethos of the school and Roundwood Park remains the same, continuing to educate local children in a caring and supportive way that encourages them to develop their best talents through a broad and balanced curriculum. This article is adapted from the original produced for the 50th celebrations by Ruth Martin & Christine Hood. UPDATE On 13 September 2018 Roundwood Park was proud to officially open a state of the art 3G artificial pitch on the school site. A joint venture with Harpenden Colts FC, and with a £500,000 grant from the Premier League and the FA Facilities Fund, it allowed us to replace the existing grass pitch, which was unsuitable for football during the winter months. The new pitch is used by all students and players from the school as well as Harpenden Colts FC, who operate around 60 teams across eight different training venues. Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust also use the pitch to deliver sessions for female and disabled football, as well as its use for regular summer holiday camps and coach education workshops.

HG Beauty Academy

hg beauty academy

Ellesmere Port,

Meet Amanda Flewitt, Owner & Trainer: As my 45th birthday is coming up, it got me thinking about how lucky I am to be doing a job I love. I have come a long way, literally, as I was born in New Zealand and moved to the Wirral when I was 2 years old! I’ve always been creative. I gained my Graphic Design degree from Newcastle University, then I worked in the advertising and design industry up and down the country, in Liverpool, Edinburgh, London, and Manchester. But, as it often does in life, fate intervened. I was made redundant 3 times before I was 3- years old and I decided to retrain while looking for another job. I learned how to do nails, and I carried on doing them part-time when I got a job as an Art Director in Manchester. Once I had completed my nail qualifications, I built up a client base in my spare time, carrying out treatments after work and evenings, and eventually renting a small room in a hairdresser’s. My small business grew and I decided to take the plunge to rent a larger premises and even employ staff. On the day I picked up the salon shop sign I got made redundant from the Manchester job! Wow that was not what I was expecting. But forced me to focus on making the most of it and I have never looked back. After owning a few salons in the area I an now based in the a gorgeous room in the very professional Stanlaw Abbey Business Centre, where I offer Private small group and one to one accredited training and even manage to find time to pamper my lovely loyal clients that have followed me over the last 13 years. And I love it! l have also taught beauty and nails, multi media design and even retail at West Cheshire college for 10 years, and community leisure courses in basic skincare and makeup. I love teaching, and I get such a buzz from helping someone to learn a new skill. But even better, is the feeling I get when I know that I have helped them to pursue a completely new career, or to start their own business. I personally teach all my courses, either in small groups or one to one. I love passing on hints, tips, and professional techniques to my students. I always offer them support after the course, and I invite them back to resit it if they feel like they need to. They also get access to a private Facebook group, where they can get support, access videos, and much more. My aim is to have every student leave my courses with not only a sense of achievement, but the confidence and ability to be a fantastic therapist. My work makes me feel proud, and so does juggling my career with being a mother to my wonderful, and cheeky 6-year-old son. He is my motivation, my inspiration, and my constant reminder of why I do what I do every single day. Please feel free to call me Amanda 07434994783 for more information or to make an appointment to discuss your course interests further.

Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics

imagine! belfast festival of ideas & politics

Belfast

The 8th Imagine! Belfast Festival proved to be a successful offering involving 147 events and 359 speakers & performers during 21-27 March 2022. The eclectic week of talks, workshops, theatre, poetry, comedy, music, exhibitions, film and tours attracted an audience of 9,210 online and in-person attendees. Most of the events (82%) were free as the festival returned to live events after two years operating online. Although Covid continued to impact on our programme with 17 events cancelled due to illness, we were still able to roll out a huge range of events including headliners such as Michael Ignatieff, Tom Robinson, Helen Thompson, Michael Longley, Ece Temelkuran, Bill Neely and a host of exciting arts and cultural events – with many sold out or oversubscribed. We have conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the festival through an audience survey(3.5% sample). Our survey found that 95% of respondents felt the festival satisfied their expectations. It was particularly pleasing to find that 60% of audience members were attending a festival event for the first time and 37% of the sample had never been to a festival venue before, which suggests that we were able to reach new audiences and introduce them to new venues and partners. Other outcomes included: 12% of attendees came from outside Northern Ireland. Of these, 13% stated the festival was the main reason they were visiting Belfast. Audience spend: Our sample spent an average of £35 attending our events Number of festival partners: 52 Number of international participants: 40 with 27 events organised by participants from outside UK & Ireland Number of free events: 121 – 82% of total events Average ticket price: £7.8 Number of workshops: 14 Number of venues used: 35 Media coverage: Total number of items: 98. Reach: 4,022,796. AVE: £181,881. PR value: £545,644 Positive feedback was also elicited from survey respondents, detailed as follows: 95% of respondents felt the festival satisfied their expectations with only 1% reporting dissatisfaction (increased from 94% in 2021) 95.3% of people answered the question ‘after attending the festival, would you be more likely to attend other politics-related events’ (88% last year) 97.8 of respondents stated they were more likely to recommend the festival to family and friends after attending one of our events with 1.6% stating they felt the same When asked whether the festival promotes Belfast and Northern Ireland in a positive way, 98.4% said yes, with 1.6% responding as ‘don’t know’ People appeared to be reasonably well informed about the festival. 92% of the sample stated they were either well or somewhat informed about the festival prior to attending an event Respondents overwhelmingly found the subject matter of the event/performance as the main reason for attending the festival. However, familiarity with the speaker/performer was also cited as a factor. We also asked whether respondents considered themselves to be disadvantaged and found that 21% of the sample considered themselves to fall into this category which suggests were able to significantly engage with vulnerable and less well-off sections of the community. We invited the public to suggest and organise events in November 2021 and received a record 98 proposals, most of which we were able to support. This was a higher than expected level of public participation in the festival which resulted in more events than planned taking place in the 2022 programme. We also had a greater variety of events with more place-making events, exhibitions, music and discussions/workshop events compared to previous years.

Glen Park Primary School

glen park primary school

2DE,

Glen Park Primary is a two-form entry school set in wonderful grounds in Plympton. We are very proud of our school and the achievement and attitudes of our pupils. On the 1st September 2016, Glen Park Primary converted to academy status, and we are a member of the Westcountry Schools Trust. This is a collaboration of 13 primary and 5 secondary schools. We are very excited about the opportunities that the Trust and collaboration between the schools offers and supports us in our own school development and sharing of best practice. For further information about the Westcountry Schools Trust and to visit the Trust's website please click here. Our aim is simple; to ensure the best possible outcomes in terms of progress and attainment for every pupil, by providing the highest quality teaching and learning possible. We are extremely fortunate to have a highly committed staff who share the common aim of wanting to give your child the best possible start in life. Not only do we strive to achieve the highest level in literacy, numeracy and all round education, but we also work hard to ensure your children are safe, happy and contribute to our excellent standards of behaviour. In May 2019 the school received a Section 8 Ofsted Inspection. This was a single day inspection as the school was previously judged to be ‘good’ during our last inspection in 2012. The purpose of a short Section 8 inspection is to determine whether the school continues to provide a good standard of education and whether safeguarding is effective. We were delighted that the school secured the highest possible outcome from the process. Ofsted have concluded that whilst the school continues to offer our children a ‘good’ level of provision, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the school may be judged outstanding if it received a full Section 5 inspection now. This means Ofsted will return to the school within the next 12-24 months to carry out a full Section 5 inspection. The HMI who carried out the inspection judged the school to have made significant process in a number of key areas. A copy of the inspection letter can be accessed here. Our curriculum is rich and vibrant, and we understand that every child is unique and at Glen Park Primary we care very much about the all-round development of every individual. We believe strongly that the education of your child has to be a partnership between home and school where there is an established bond of trust and support. This is something that we work hard to achieve, and my door is always open to parents, staff, prospective parents and of course our children. I value what everyone has to say, no matter how small they are! If you are an existing member of our school community, I hope you enjoy looking at all our photos of the rich curriculum that we have to offer and finding up to date information about our school. If you are a visitor or a prospective parent, I hope you find our website useful. If you would like to find out more about the school, then please contact us to make an appointment to come and meet us.

Alder Grange School

alder grange school

Lancs.

Our school is a unique and special place. There is a real sense of family and community within the school. Alder Grange is a school where everybody is inspired to be the best they can, where excellence is nurtured by everybody and a community in which everybody cares. Our desire is to successfully develop the whole child. We place considerable emphasis on developing the foundations of personal achievement; their emotional and physical health and well-being, their social, moral, spiritual and cultural development, creativity and individuality. Our intention is to help our young people grow to become outstanding, independent, resilient and effective citizens in an uncertain, global 21st Century world. We strive to deliver a personalised curriculum alongside a rich offer of extra-curricular activities, enrichments and life skills for all our students. Naturally, academic progress and attainment are also extremely important to us, and you will find our results reflect this. This is due to a total commitment to excellent teaching and learning by a highly skilled and dedicated staff, constantly reflecting upon and developing their own practice. Many members of staff are former pupils. Our school is inclusive in nature and values young people of all abilities from year 7 to year 13. We encourage them to care for one another and the school, to work as a team and to take on leadership roles. There is also a genuine care for and partnership with the young people in our care and their families. Our current priorities in school include a focus on wellbeing, particularly mental health for both staff and pupils. The development of a curriculum intent that ensures all pupils are able to develop their knowledge and passions is taking place within all subject areas in school. During the seven years our pupils are with us they are given the skills and access to opportunities needed to make the next steps in to their adult lives. As a school we are never quite satisfied and build ongoing self-evaluation in to the school calendar to allow us to constantly review and reflect on our practice in order to improve. Alder Grangers are rightly proud of their school and our often repeated phrase, ‘once an Alder Granger always an Alder Granger,’ reflects the strength of feeling our young people have for their school. I have been a member of staff at Alder Grange since 1998 and I feel immensely proud and privileged to be Headteacher. I love the school and am passionate about ensuring it continues to go from strength to strength. You would be welcome to visit and see our wonderful school in action at any time.

St. Universe Tutors

st. universe tutors

London

We founded St. Universe Tuition after noticing a gap in the market for high-quality online language tuition. Because of this demand, we decided to create a platform where graduates of leading British universities can provide online language tuition to students from all over the world. OUTSTANDING TUTORS We carry out a rigorous screening process to select our tutors, so that we select only the most qualified and experienced teachers for our students. In order to provide tutors who are able to play a long-term role in their students’ language development, St. Universe Tutors regards all teachers as partners in the development of our company. Our teachers all have excellent academic records at prestigious British universities. It is our hope that each tutor can act as a role model and mentor to inspire their younger students to study at similar world-leading institutions. EXCELLENT TUITION St. Universe Tutors pays great attention to considering the study strategies and teaching methods which best complement our students’ learning styles. Students are taught in accordance with their aptitude, and tutors selected based on their suitability. Whilst our tutors are all highly-experienced, some specialise in a particular style of teaching, be it primary-school classes, or business English tuition. INVALUABLE INTERACTIONS Helping students understand and solve questions and queries after class is an integral part of the St. Universe Tutors offering. Our tutors act as partners in their students’ language development, and are on-hand to help whenever called upon. Considerable interaction with tutors helps students to enhance their language ability and self-confidence – allowing each to fulfil their maximum potential. PERFECTLY-TAILORED COURSES Our diverse collection of courses are designed with a range of ages and levels in mind. · Preschool students Beginning language learning at a young age can help to improve pronunciation naturally due to reduced interference from the child’s mother tongue. Young children also have a particularly strong ability to imitate and memorise words and phrases, which is conducive to the development of language fluency later in life. · Primary school students The period between the ages of 3 and 10 represents a crucial time in a child’s foreign language development. Laying the foundations in childhood, with accurate pronunciation and grammar, allows the child to start using English freely in their adolescence. · High school students St. Universe Tutors specialises in helping students into top British schools by recruiting the most experienced tutors and specialising in online tuition. We are able to provide academic tuition to aid high school students with common English language entrance exams for schools and universities, including TOEFL and IELTS. Preparation for British academic qualifications, including (i)GCSEs, A-levels, as well as 11+, 13+, 16+ entrance examinations, is also offered by St. Universe Tutors, across all conventional subjects and major exam boards. Our tutors are all experts in their fields, with deep knowledge of curricula and exam mark schemes. We put a particular focus on studying past exam questions, both in class and through tailor-made worksheets set as homework. All our worksheets are informed by our tutors extensive experience of learning and teaching at the highest level. · University students Studying in a foreign language, and moving to a new city, can be a daunting prospect for students. An experienced tutor to build academic English skills, and act as a mentor through a student’s studies is invaluable at this time. · Adults We cater to professionals looking to improve their business English, as well as those simply looking to take their conversational language to the next level! · School online teaching We offer online English teaching through tailor-made course for kindergartens, primary schools, and high schools in China so that all students have the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of foreign languages, foreign cultures and customs, and broaden their international horizons.

The Socent Connection

the socent connection

London

Our mission is to promote social enterprise to people and give them the opportunity to connect with the many amazing companies within the sector. We want to inspire the next generation of change makers, whether as consumers, employees or entrepreneurs. Commited to Growth 100 % Passionate 100 % Friendly 100 % The Founders Story Meet Anthony Veluz The journey so far… Summer 2012- National Citizen Service EBP My social enterprise journey started in 2012. At the end of my Law and Business degree, I worked as a Mentor on the National Citizen Service (NCS) for their summer programme. I supported and coached a group of young people, through a programme of personal and social development, which culminated in a social action project in their local area. This programme consisted of team-building activities at an outdoor activity centre and skills development week at a University. For social action, my group carried out a project in their local community, providing a positive impact. Although NCS encompasses social impact, I wasn’t aware of social enterprise at the time. I didn’t even realise that the NCS provider I was working for, The Education Business Partnership (EBP), was a social enterprise themselves. It was only during the following year that I realised EBP were a social enterprise. I worked for them on NCS as a mentor across 13 different programmes over the years. 2013 – Elephant Branded It was during my Masters that I came across Elephant Branded, the first social enterprise I actually knew about! I had an interest in ‘good business’ and it was whilst I was watching ‘Be your own Boss’ on BBC3 that I discovered Elephant Branded. They make these amazing products out of recycled material, which in turn funds school kits in Africa and Asia. They also support the communities who make these products. I researched them online and discovered they had a student rep program. This is where the journey began. I started doing events on campus such as talks, lectures, pop-up stands, promoting Elephant Branded online and offline. This caught the eye of James Boon, Elephant Branded’s founder who offered me further opportunities across the country. Opening doors to lectures, talks, workshops and events in places such as Nottingham, Boston, Cardiff, Surrey and London. I really enjoyed what I was doing. I was able to meet many other social enterprises at events and learn more about social business. I gained new contacts, new skills and newfound confidence. Working For Other Social Enterprises Elephant Branded got the ball rolling. Other social enterprises were seeing what I was doing which led to me promoting them. I started working for GiveMeTap and LSTN Sound Co in addition to Elephant Branded. The skills I obtained with Elephant Branded were transferred to my newly appointed roles. I was offered a unique opportunity to represent all three social enterprises on the NCS programme, which I had previously mentored on. I delivered the Business Challenge on NCS across the East Midlands and Yorkshire, representing Elephant Branded, GiveMeTap and LSTN. It was The Apprentice meets Social Enterprise meets NCS. I had great fun promoting social enterprise to the young people on NCS. The challenge encouraged them to think about social enterprise ideas in their local areas and pitching new business ideas. During Global Entrepreneurship Week, again I represented all three social enterprises at an event hosted by Enterprise Zone and UnLtd at Boston College, celebrating social enterprise, Go Social. It was at this event I met people from UnLtd and discovered they funded social enterprises. I looked into this and eventually pitched for both pre-start-up funding and start-up funding. In between, I also successfully pitched for start-up funding from my University in Lincoln, leading to the next piece of the puzzle, setting up The Socent Connection.

Chickenshed Theatre Company

chickenshed theatre company

London

We've been making pioneering, beautiful and inclusive theatre for over 40 years. And we're just getting started... Chickenshed is an inclusive theatre company that first began in 1974. Primarily based at our own purpose-built venue in North London, we create theatre for all ages and run successful outreach projects, education courses and membership programmes throughout the year. We are also a registered charity and rely heavily on the generous support of individuals, companies, trusts and foundations in order to continue our pioneering work. Performance Entertaining and thought-provoking Performance is at the heart of everything that we do, and brings together all aspects of the company. Our work uses the stage to celebrate diversity and performance as a vehicle to communicate with audiences and tackle topical social issues. We regularly present original and entertaining productions for young children, families and adults. We also create new work, inspired by the people around us, about personal and social issues that affect society today which we then take on tour to theatres, community centres and schools across the UK. You can visit our What's On section, to see our upcoming shows and events. Education Because everyone has a right Chickenshed changes lives by bringing young people from all social and economic backgrounds, cultures and abilities together to study creatively alongside each other, many of whom have been marginalised by society and excluded from mainstream educational settings. We welcome over 200 students onto our Level 3, Foundation Degree and BA courses every year. 66% of students would not otherwise have the opportunity to study, yet 95% of these same students achieve a nationally recognised qualification at Chickenshed. Participation Celebrating diversity We believe that every person who joins our company positively changes the way that we work. We work to every individual's strengths, finding the creative environment that will enable them to flourish. We hold weekly workshops for over 900 children and young people - providing them with a safe and rewarding environment where they can gain a new-found confidence and have the chance to regularly perform in major in-house productions. Outreach Targeting those who are difficult to reach Chickenshed has established a network of partners that enables us to effectively target children and young people who would otherwise not be able to access our work. We regularly take our inclusive outreach model on the road, delivering over 15 projects and benefiting over 15,000 young people every year in venues ranging from primary schools and young offender centres, to mainstream and special schools. Our work engages and educates young people about relevant social issues through the power of performance and active participation in workshops. ‘You must do the show in my primary school because that is when everything bad starts.' 13-year-old boy from a school in London. We also run Shedlink - an ongoing project that enables us to help community groups set up independent 'Sheds' around the UK (and two in Russia!) so that more people can benefit from our ethos and teaching style. Chickenshed Kensington & Chelsea Expanding our work to meet growing need In 2011, we launched our branch in Kensington & Chelsea to bring our work to an area of London polarised between rich and poor. This will ensure even more children and young people can experience the importance of being included and valued; not segregated or rejected. 50% of children in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea attend independent schools, yet 42% of children in the Borough are from low income families. Young Creators Vocational training programme Young Creators is a professional development programme which launched in 2013, providing young people with access to training and practical work experience in a variety of theatre skills. The programme provides a platform which teaches young people creative skills and arms them with the necessary tools to further their professional development. Each year, up to 165 Young Creators can benefit from the programme