Arts Projects

Arts projects funding - covering music, drama and all forms of expressive arts

  • Specialist music workshops for children and their families with Soundabout
  • Young care leavers support and training with The Big House 
  • Mental health awareness with "Speak Out" projects in schools from Blue Elephant Theatre 
  • Community and therapeutic support with Arts for All
  • Music workshops and support for young refugees with Soundmix
  • Therapeutic support workshops "Breathing Space" programme in children's hospices with Dance Art Foundation

Blue Elephant Theatre

The Blue Elephant Theatre in Camberwell was established in 1999 and is on the frontline of services to people of all ages in one of London’s most deprived boroughs. BET provide a wide range of projects and opportunities for children and young people. They work in local schools, provide youth theatre opportunities to the most marginalised young people and run their acclaimed “Speak Out” forum theatre projects. The George Oliver Foundation provided funding over three years for new “Speak Out” forum theatre projects looking at issues around mental health and emotional challenges. 

The focus of work at BET is to tackle all forms of social exclusion as well as motivating young people, addressing the key social problems they are facing and changing the group dynamics that are rooted in aggression and division. BET work in partnership with other local agencies to ensure that each young person is given guidance that is specific to their needs while also experiencing the social inclusion of a safe and supportive group.  

Forum theatre is an interactive performance method that engages an audience to find a positive resolution to a play. These projects encourage young people by opening up debate and discussion about alternative possibilities, facilitating young people to positively guide themselves and others. The audience is supported by a facilitator who encourages them to intervene in chosen scenes of the play to influence a character’s choices and guide them in a new direction. There are no right or wrong answers, just the chance for the audience to work constructively to find a positive resolve. It is an exciting and effective way to work with groups of young people to explore behaviour and empower them to make change. 

The projects were devised and created by a referred group of young people and then taken to local schools. BET “Speak Out” projects have been touring to schools since 2008 and teachers are consistently impressed by the difference they witness in their students during and after these workshops.

Soundabout

Soundabout was founded in Oxford in 1997 and supports disabled children and their families. They help children with complex disabilities to develop their ability to communicate and interact with the world around them through music, rhythm and sound. Soundabout’s music-making techniques help to stimulate communication, physical movement, learning and self-expression. Their techniques enable those who cannot hold musical instruments or speak to make a positive contribution to music making, as well as developing their ability to interact with the world around them.

The George Oliver Foundation funding helped to provide 15 music making sessions during 2017 for children and young people with sensory, physical and learning disabilities. These workshops are aimed at the needs of children and families who are new to Soundabout. The family weekend sessions bring whole families (parents and siblings) together to share music making and enjoy the new skills and experiences that Soundabout introduces. Soundabout also runs an inclusive choir and many other different opportunities for supporting children with complex needs.

Arts For All

Arts For All is a highly creative charity that has been serving the disadvantaged communities of Tower Hamlets and Hackney since 2001. The organization runs several different weekly art therapy and support sessions to engage people of all ages from diverse cultures and background and those with special needs. The centre sits within one of the most deprived areas of the UK. Some 85% of families served by the centre are unemployed and three quarters have English as an additional language.

The George Oliver Foundation contributed funding to the creative after school "Kaleidoscope" club which supports disadvantaged children and young people aged 5 to 16. Around 60 children a week access the free project which is run by staff and trained volunteers to use art therapy techniques to help its members. Research has shown that 95% of these will reconnect with school and proceed to further education and/or employment. A partnership with the National Autistic Society also ensures that children on the autism spectrum can access and join the club. 

The Big House

The Big House works to support young people who have been through the care system. The George Oliver Foundation funded part of a project to help new young care leavers transition into the next stage of their lives. The Big House is a charity exclusively dedicated to providing support for this often marginalised group of young people. Young care leavers frequently experience much hardship in adjusting to adult life, usually with minimal support. The Big House Theatre Company works with these young people using a combination of drama therapy and life skills training to equip them for the next stage of their lives. 

The “Open House Project” is an intensive 12 week course including life skills workshops looking at many different areas including nutrition and financial management as well as psychotherapeutic support. The focus is also the creation of a performance based on the stories and experiences of the young people involved. The Big House provides a platform for the young people to participate in the making of theatre and to have their voices heard. The core aim is to support young people who may have given up on themselves to gain the skills and confidence to turn their lives around.
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