Transcript Woodville and the Community

Woodville and the Community
Building partnerships for the future
What have we done?
• Since 2011 Woodville has openly engaged
with the community
• Over 30 volunteers aged 17-80
• Established an Education & Outreach program
• Led theatre workshops with local schools
• Received £1,200 from Alpha Bridging
Solutions Ltd & £950 from GBC to fund
workshops and activities
Woodville Volunteers
A much needed scheme managed by Martin Fairs, Deputy
General Manager. Volunteers enjoy a hot drink and cake
during every shift, get to see shows and film and are invited
to a Christmas Party and Summer supper as a thank you for
their support. None of the above are the reasons they
volunteer – they want to be part of their community.
“I love volunteering at the Woodville as it is a great
way to meet different people, make new friends and
see some shows. Us volunteers are made to feel very
welcome and valued.” A. Wright
“I love volunteering at the Woodville as it is a great way to meet
different people, make new friends and see some shows. Us
volunteers are made to feel very welcome and valued” A. Wright
“Volunteering at the Woodville gives me the opportunity to
work with a fantastic team of professionals and to see some
great shows” E. Stuart
“Volunteering at the Woodville is a very rewarding experience, especially if like me
you love going to the theatre and cinema anyway. Everyone is appreciative of your
help. You can be involved as much or as little as you want to be. By giving something
back to the local community, you in return have the opportunity to make new
friends, learn new skills and keep mentally and physically active”
Chris C (recently taken early retirement).
"I love theatre of any sort and enjoy the company and mix of the other
volunteers. I gain more than I give and by giving our support voluntarily we
probably enable the Woodville to provide a wider and more varied programme
for the pleasure of all” Anne King
Claire Goatham
Claire is a local actress and theatre
practitioner. She has worked for
many years in the bars at Woodville.
Claire brings great local knowledge
and connections schools to the heart
of our programming.
Feed back forms received post
event/work shop are always positive
and help us evaluate our product.
Some of the schools we have
worked with in 2013
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Higham Primary
Longfield Academy
Christ Church Hall
Ifield School
Meopham Primary School
Chantry Primary School
Cubs & Brownies Tours (& Bullying Workshop)
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Does not include schools groups that have attended set text works
“Claire established a safe and stimulating environment and was
able to stretch and challenge students of all abilities”
T. Martin, Ifield School
“Thank you for making the workshop so much fun and so
enjoyable for all the children”
R. White, Wrotham Road Primary School
“We used BIGFOOT Theatre Company last year for a
similar performance but were a lot more impressed
with the outcome of the workshop led by The
Woodville. We will definitely loo in to this in the
future” L.McEllistrum, Higham Primary School
“It was fantastic. . . . . I have already recommended it to one other
leader in Dartford and will be recommending it to all the others at
a future leaders meeting”
Sarah Green, Stone Birch Cub Pack, Theatre Tour and Workshop.
“Thank you for letting us come along , I hope it will be
the first of many visits. If you want to brainstorm about
links to the curriculum do let me know”
C. Leonard, Chantry Primary School
“…A big thank you for a great workshop…a fantastic experience
enjoyed by staff and students” H. Rennie, Longfield Academy
• Woodville Theatre
For Youth started
in September 2012
• Teaching skills for
life, not just the
theatre
• Aged 6-14
• building trust,
confidence and
developing talent
“…It’s fun, you make new friends and it
definitely keeps you busy – I love WTFY”
Tayla
“Well done guys for a fantastic performance! So so proud! Claire,
thank you so much for your input.. Tayla's confidence has grown
so much and he really enjoyed being on stage! Keep doing what
you're doing gang” Tayla’s Mum
Woodville Theatre for Youth is not just a place where young
people can develop their skills as performers it also offers a
vital outlet for those that might struggle to achieve and find
direction at school.
One member of the group battled daily to feel settled and
happy at school and I know through numerous conversations
with his mother that Woodville Theatre For Youth is the one
place where he really pushes himself, feels part of a team and
has found a passion that makes him strive to be better.
To hear praise is so important for his self-esteem and
development and it is equally important for his mother to hear
positive feedback about her son rather than the regular
complaints about bad behaviour from his school.
Claire Goatham – Education & Outreach Coordinator
The Benefits
• Our volunteers have given us greater flexibility in
the deployment of paid casual staff and given
members of the community a stake in their local
venue. Over 1500 shifts were carried out by our
volunteers in 2013
• Our Education & Outreach connections allows us
to listen to schools – ensuring we present works
that fit with their curriculum, developing a new
audience of young Gravesham residents
Where do we go from here?
• We will work with the team that set up the hugely successful
Hazlitt Youth Theatre to increase attendance of our Youth
Theatre
• Engage more theatre companies to perform in our studio –
curriculum based theatre (Macbeth in Pitch Black & Peter Pan were a huge success)
• Use our volunteers to steward the gallery to help ascertain
response and opinion on this area
• Our partnership with MBP pantomimes will further enhance
our education links with schools
• KCC Arts Officer, Laura Bailey recommends we apply for match
funding to obtain technical equipment that we can use to teach
with
• Continue to make Woodville a venue that people in Gravesham
feel a connection with
• We cannot underestimate how much good will and support
our outreach project generates