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ARTiculation
The following is an extract from NCH Central Office information:
ARTiculation information to projects
As many of you will know NCH has, over the last two years, been working closely with the National Association of Youth Theatres (NAYT), using the arts to help give power to the voices of those young people with whom we work. The cornerstone of this work has been the annual Youth Arts Weekend, known variously as Positive Images, The Sheffield Weekend, and Zipp and Pizz. From this main weekend young people have volunteered to go on and take part in performances at venues such as NCH’s fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference an most recently the DfEE launch of the Children’s Fund.
NCH has now made a successful joint bid with NAYT for monies to extend this programme of work. Lloyds TSB foundation have given us around £180,000 over the next three years. The money will enable us to add four main elements to the programme. The programme has been called ARTiculation, the name was chosen to try and communicate the fact that the project is using the arts to add power to young people’s voices. As well as continuing the elements mentioned above we are going to add:
In years 1 and 2
A staff training programme The purpose of this programme is to provide project workers with the opportunity to add youth art techniques to the repertoire of skills already at their disposal. We know that many Projects have set up drama projects as a result of the Youth Arts Weekend, but have often had to buy in the drama input. The training will enable workers to provide the input themselves if they so wish or at least make them more discerning purchasers! The course will be run twice during 2001and will take place in London on 27 March and in Darlington on 29 March.
An arts worker training programme Arts workers are currently being employed to work with disadvantaged young people, often without having the necessary skills or experience. The development of training in partnership with the Regional Arts Boards (RABs) will allow NAYT to further develop models of good practice alongside arts policy makers. NCH Action for Children’s experience and expertise will feed directly into the training of arts workers.
In year 2
There will be two Regional Youth Arts Weekends. This will increase access points and also provide an opportunity for local groups who have been using the arts to share their work and offer more local support.
In year 3
Regional Workshops & Regional Projects
The Regional Workshop Programme will comprise short, self-contained taster sessions allowing young people access to the programme at their own level. It will be aimed at those young people with more chaotic lifestyles and allow access to the arts to young people who might not be confident or interested enough to attend the Regional or National Youth Arts Weekend. Participating Youth Arts Companies will tender ideas for a range of workshops. NCH Action for Children’s local projects will be able to opt for a workshop to be held at their project, or to put together a programme and then bring in arts workers to run them. The workshop series will encourage participants to actively examine a range of issues affecting their lives.
Regional Projects in Year 3 will provide a further opportunity for young people to build on the learning and skills they have developed thus far.The value of peer education is well proven; often young people will take advice from a contemporary whom they would ignore if it came from an adult, especially an adult professional. These pieces would give young people the opportunity to explore issues in depth, such as what it is like leaving care. The performance can also be used to help educate young people in care and help them to make informed decisions about living independently. The projects will be showcased at The Youth Arts Weekend.
In years 1 to 3
Monitoring/research - The programme will be monitored through ‘Action Research’ processes with the aim of developing methods capable of measuring the effectiveness of the "ARTiculation" programme in:
The Action Research will seek to find indicators capable of measuring the effect of the programme in increasing the participants’ self-confidence, self awareness, self esteem, ability to self motivate, ability and willingness to challenge and be challenged, aptitude for learning.
The research will seek to find quantifiable links between “ARTiculation” and youth work and document the impact of young people's involvement in youth theatre on other areas of their lives eg academic achievement, offending behaviour, involvement in other groups, career progression, volunteering and access to further/higher education.
From the perspective of NCH we hope that the research will prove useful for projects in showing how NCH adds value.
For those of you who haven’t been aware of the development of this project, and therefore aren’t clear on what is involved, why we do it and what young people get out of it then a sheet is attached from our funding bid which sets this out. Additionally each Regional Office has a video of the Youth Arts Weekend held in July 2000 which gives ample evidence of what young people get out of it.
ARTiculation – Why?
Challenging disadvantage and discrimination is the keystone of this programme. By giving some of the most vulnerable and excluded young people the opportunity to explore and express their views and opinions to policy makers, business leaders and service deliverers we hope to give them the opportunity to challenge those policies or practices which bring about or compound their disadvantage. The group of young people involved will have the opportunity to do drama - often the preserve of the middle class. Finally and most importantly the whole make up of this programme whereby it is young people speaking out on their own behalf and getting involved in running the programme challenges commonly held conceptions about this group of young people and their lack of potential. We hope that by the end of the programme many more people will understand that it is opportunity rather than potential that they lack.
Young people who have been involved in the care system have experienced traditional social work intervention for a major proportion of their lives, often unwillingly, and whilst they may have issues they wish to tackle, they have little or no desire for ‘more of the same’ kind of help.
The Arts offer young people the opportunity of addressing issues whilst having a good time. Young people who have taken part in arts or drama work have talked about the importance of being able to come to a group where, whilst membership doesn’t stigmatise, they still feel they get therapeutic benefit.
"There doesn’t have to be something wrong with you to come to drama"
"It helps build my confidence"
Performance is also perhaps unique in being able to provide young people with a positive ‘buzz’. Many of the young people with whom NCH Action For Children works get their ‘kicks’ from stealing, taking drugs or drinking. Experiencing an adrenaline rush because of a performance may be crucial in diverting young people from a reliance on negative or harmful sources of excitement.
The programme will offer socially excluded young people the opportunity of having their views heard and of knowing that others are committed to them having that opportunity.
Benefits gained by the young people will include increased self awareness, self reliance and self worth which will enable them to explore issues that affect their lives, take risks and respond to challenges in a safe environment. They will also acquire team skills such as trust and co-operation, all key areas in seeking and maintaining employment. Collaboration with other agencies will ensure that young people who have acquired these skills be offered accreditation.
Overall, the programme provides a non-stigmatising and therapeutic environment which encourages divergent thinking, problem solving and deep learning as well as promoting volunteering by encouraging young people to volunteer as support workers at both Youth Arts Weekend events and the Year 3 Workshop/Project programme. |
