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THEATR FFORWM CYMRU ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007
Director’s Report
This years AGM sees us entering our 15th year and it is therefore very frustrating that we find ourselves still wondering about the future sustainability of the organisation. I know that I should begin with the successes this year and there have been many, but, it feels important to say it like it is. So you’ll have to save the icing on the cake until the end – and as we all know being able to delay gratification is an important part of emotional intelligence! We have an excellent track record both as a community arts provision, and for our fund-raising strategies. Over the years we have accessed funding through many wide and diverse routes, reflecting the wide and diverse nature of our work, which is after all based on “Theatre of the Oppressed” and not as Anna used to say “Theatre of the Well Off and Comfortable, thank you very much!” Perhaps that is why, due to changes in some Welsh funding streams and dare we say some lottery money being diverted to the 2012 Olympics, this year we have found ourselves “in difficult times” yet again! Once more we are living the well known Chinese proverb! And yes we do know about the “opportunity” embraced within this, which is why we continue taking the many opportunities that come to us. Mostly these come in the form of commissions, but needless to say they are often with some of the most marginalised and impoverished groups in Wales, and as such are right at the heart of the social inclusion agenda. For example Our work with the Asylum Seeking community in Swansea, being developed through a core cost grant from the Baring Foundation, has been truly humbling and important. This work is continuing as is our work in Rhondda Cynon Taf with disengaged and marginalised young people. As we enter our 3rd year with the R.C.T “A2A” extending entitlement project, we are truly grateful for their continued support and commitment to our work. They understand the link between our emotional intelligence focus and the “capacity building” of young people, so important if they are to access their entitlements.
This year has also seen us doing the second year of our local emotional intelligence project, funded by BBC Children in Need (not much extra funding comes into North Pembrokeshire.) It’s been a great second year with lots of workshops and a fantastic lantern procession at the “Spring Equinox.” Many thanks to Josie Coggins for this and also for extra funding from the Sustainable Pembrokeshire grant. Deri is continuing the great work with Caryl at the Amber Project in Cardiff (with young people who self-harm) and she is also working with the Wildmill youth group; Karen and Llew are “doing” marvels with our Base 64 youth group (extending now to Base 61 in Haverfordwest). And this year has seen us again performing at a number of conferences (the U.S. Network (thanks Ron and Jeff), Merthyr Tydfil Housing Conference etc.). We have also completed the training in Ukraine for the British Council, produced a DVD and work-pack on exploring emotional intelligence (which we are waiting to get published) and undertaken lots of others smaller projects too many to mention. Future work in the pipe-line includes further work with Carmarthenshire youth service, a project with Pembrokeshire Advocacy, conferences with PAVO, Learning Disability Wales, and the U.S. Network etc, on-going work with R.C.T., the Amber project, developing more Base groups, further work with asylum seekers and refugees, forum theatre training in Estonia and also for Arttrain in Scotland etc. And finally, all this with the knowledge that because most of our funding is directly related to delivering work, we need to stay well! So “stay well” everyone and thanks as always to all our freelance workers and our army of fantastic volunteers all named at the back. Special thanks to Sheila (trusted volunteer and committee member) for yet another wonderful and special cover for our Annual Report, Gina for fantastic non-judgemental listening and a reflecting space, Karen and Kathy for ….. loads of things (not least for taking the rough with the smooth, and sharing the laughter and tears!) and Lorraine our Chair for all the on-going, extra, out of hours support.
Gill Dowsett
Volunteers’ views
"At a recent conference held by the US Network (an organisation aimed at giving a voice to mental health service users in Wales) and facilitated by Theatr fforwm Cymru, I felt particularly strongly the potential of forum theatre as a tool of empowerment. What really struck me was the idea that the world of the political - of laws, of official protocol and of the archetypal 'expert opinion' - seems to elevate itself beyond the level of human emotion. I felt that our aim at the conference was to bridge, through the expressive forms of theatre and deeply open-minded discussion, the gap between politics (which is to me just a tool of living, like cars or food) and feeling (which is, after all has been said, what is of inescapable importance to all of humanity). This aim is consistent with so much of the greatest philosophy. As a result of the conference, I felt something that is perhaps rare these days: a desire to take action, rather than sit around and talk about it. The conference pointed me in the direction of journalism, so I am in the process of writing something that will evoke the need for more funding to be allocated to organisations like the US Network, and also generally more consideration to be given to mental health service users. But more than this: Just as Fforwm teaches me to reduce the bureaucracies of my logic to pure and Stevie Jones
One of the activities we did during work experience was a day with the sibling group; they are a group of young people who have siblings with a disability. This day included playing games, discussions and foruming a piece of previously prepared theatre. I am a member of Base 64 and it was really enjoyable to see the other events that Theatr Fforwm Cymru participate in and the people they work with. It was amazing to see how emotionally intelligent these children are, I was never able to put my thoughts and feelings in to words as well as they can at that age. You can see how important it is to these children to have this time just for them. Forum Theatre gives them the chance to have their voice heard, which is difficult for them in their home lives. It was emotional for me to see what these children have to deal with and how strong they are, I find it difficult to imagine how they cope when I struggle with minor difficulties in my life. It is when you are given the chance to see this first hand that you can really appreciate the work that Theatr Fforwm do. This week I will also be working with the special needs department in Fishguard Junior school, Goodwick primary school and children who have difficulties in school and their parents in the Rhondda. Rosie Seymour. On work experience with ThFfC 2007
It’s an artificially lit room even though the light outside is dazzlingly brilliant. So I’m standing there in this fantastically large room with ceilings littered with chandeliers, watching some friends (some new, some almost as old as time...actually no, not that old) dance and, in one case, “dance” in front of the Duke of Gloucester. The DUKE of Gloucester. And, if that wasn’t bizarre enough, it seems I was also in Africa.
So why is this relevant? Well obviously it was because of Theatr Fforwm Cymru and its gang of youthful slaves, collectively known as Base 64. This is going to seem so cheesy that it’ll seem as if it has spawned from the mind of a giant stilton, but it’s true: if it wasn’t for Base and ThFfC then I wouldn’t have gone and it wouldn’t have happened. But it did happen, and after a drive in a hire car (a hire car with a special sport button no less) and after spending more time on a plane than is good for any bottom, I was in Lusaka, where Llew told me it probably wasn’t a good idea to film the Guys with Guns. Although the week was short and we didn’t actually do much that was forum theatre related, it was a great to experience a country so different from Uncle Britain. Meeting new people and seeing the projects that they had either done or were in the process of doing was great.
All the exchanges I’ve been on have all highlighted that fact that we are all in a world and not in a bubble and, although I may be shot for sounding so incredibly clichéd, Theatr Fforwm Cymru and Base 64 have helped me burst that bubble and see the wider globe. BANG! Ed
Emotional Intelligence Workshop for ThFfC staff and volunteers 15-16th November 2006 With Kinny Gardner—Ballet Dancer, Clown Extraordinaire, Sign Language Arts Teacher with children. Two days with a master; playing games; working with traditional styles eg pantomime; mime; masks in commedia dell’arte (Italian Renaissance—theatre of the ridiculous). Laughter, warmth, loving companions, inspiration, awe—a huge learning curve and the happiest two consecutive days of my LIFE!
Sheila Knapp Fisher
Counsellor’s view
We asked Gina, our counsellor who has been with Theatr fforwm Cymru (ThFfC) as she explains the very beginning to give a brief outline of her crucial and deeply appreciated role: “Since the very beginning of the organisation, offering emotional support to the staff and volunteers who are the heart of ThFfC has been a priority. Work related stress is a commonly acknowledged feature of every day life, particularly for people working in the voluntary sector, with ever increasing competition for funding, and the continual uncertainty which that brings. This is not only a reality for ThFfC, but also for many of the organisations that we work with, who are struggling themselves to support a wide range of vulnerable groups in the community. If we are offering to teach other groups about Emotional Intelligence we must of course first be prepared to "walk our own talk" and to this end we offer to everyone involved in the day to day work of the organisation a number of different kinds of Support. First there is the Monday morning Circle, a chance for us all to get together and check in with ourselves and each other, share our thinking and plan who is going where in the week, followed by a shared lunch. As well as this group time, we now require that all staff and volunteers have individual Non-managerial work focused supervision. This is designed to invite more in depth reflection on what is going well for each of us in our work, what is difficult and how those difficulties might be addressed and how we can improve our working practice in any way. Sometimes individuals become aware of issues which they feel they would like to explore in greater depth, over a period of time, and they opt for some one to one counseling. We hope that through these various opportunities we can all increase our awareness of ourselves and each other and continue to learn and grow for the benefit of ourselves and ThFfC.”
Gina Wood
Asst Director’s Report
Where to begin? Well, it hardly seems a year since the last report, that’s for sure. My personal circumstances have been dominant and – inevitably – spilled into my work life. Once upon a time, a few annual reports ago, I had the bright idea to put a roller coaster as a watermark throughout the report – wish I’d saved that image now, as that one was in retrospect a mere kiddie coaster – the big drops, corkscrews and 360° turns were still to come!
So, continuing that analogy, it makes sense to focus this report on a few key “hairpin bends”, rather than a comprehensive description of everything that has happened to me – and fforwm – in the past 12 months.
Youth Agora 2006—by the skin of our teeth we were funded for a multi-lateral exchange focussing on democracy and participation, and involving almost 100 young people from Wales, Portugal, Romania and Estonia. There were highs (it bloody happened! And we have the DVD to prove it!), lows (not a single decision maker turning up for performances in Cardiff), laughter (mine and Gill’s Caribbean soca dancing has to be seen to be believed!), pride (particularly in the young people from Base 64 who “hosted” with energy, enthusiasm and commitment) and much learning (don’t do a two-centre exchange over 11 days if you want anyone to be capable of speech at the end; and don’t even contemplate doing a major exchange just two months after your husband has died – duh.)
Base 64 – our young people’s forum theatre group – continues to challenge, inspire and humble me. There are now around 30 young people on the books, the largest non-statutory weekly youth group in North Pembrokeshire. The highlight for Base this year has been Llew’s Social Action Project, funded by the British Council, which culminated in an incredibly successful performance exploring issues of identity and xenophobia at Pembrokeshire College. And – for two members of base – this led to a visit to Zambia to meet young people from Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mauritius engaged in similar projects. Thank you Llew for such an inspiring project. And Base groups have been set up in Wildmill (Bridgend) and Haverfordwest, with several other areas interested in establishing a group of their own – and many youth projects looking for a visit from our group. This continues to be a major focus for me – and I am acutely aware of the need to take it slowly, to ensure sustainability and appropriate funding – but I am excited as to the potential both for “our own” base group and for more as the coming year progresses. Funding continues to be a concern, with still no core funding on the horizon and the issue of sustainability (not to mention exhaustion) a thorny one. We continue to apply for project funding which is a hard grind both in terms of multiplicity of applications and the amount of work needed to fulfil the projects themselves. The BBC Children in Need grant has once again provided exciting opportunities to explore emotional intelligence using a variety of art forms in our local area, from the incredibly successful lantern procession drawing in our community, to dance, music and mindfulness. For me, working on a regular basis with the Ysgol Glannau Gwaun Special Needs class has been joyous—a privilege to really get to know the children and their dedicated staff members, and an opportunity to really watch as a vocabulary for feelings and emotions develops. There have been many other pieces of work that have been close to my heart this year—Haverfordwest VC School, working again with Pembrokeshire Advocacy, and building relationships with the sixth formers at Ysgol Penglais to name but three. Balanced with these have been the “desk” jobs which can be equally stimulating—looking again at our constitutional structure; meaty grant applications; and the continuing struggle regarding the ownership of Goodwick Community Centre—although perhaps nourishing isn’t an appropriate word for that one! In summary, as ever, fforwm is a place to learn, to stretch myself and to grow – that’s not always comfortable and certainly not always easy – but I learn so much every day. I have loved working with our volunteers, particularly loved working jointly on projects with Deri and Llew, am incredibly grateful to Kathy for her wide and varied skills in the office, thank Gina from the bottom of my heart for her wise counsel – and have no words sufficient for my respect for and thanks to Gill. Karen Chandler
Admin co-ordinator’s report
I have been working here at Theatr Fforwm Cymru now for almost 18 months and since my last report a lot has changed for me both in work and personally, all of which I am glad to say for the better.
The systems that I have put in place are working really well for everyone I believe, from Staff involved in the office to facilitators and volunteers, and although there are still a number of tasks that need fine tuning, I feel confident in saying that my personal aim to carry out all duties involved in the role competently, is being achieved. I give 100% effort in trying to ensure the smooth running of the day to day administrative duties and at the same time assisting both Gill (Director) and Karen (Assistant Director) where I can. I believe that I am now contributing something positive to Theatr Fforwm Cymru and hope to carry on working here as long as I am needed. I very, much enjoy my work and feel privileged to be involved with such a fantastic group of people, where my thanks go to both Gill and Karen for helping me not just to settle in, but to really make me feel part of this very, very, special organization - words cannot express my admiration for you both. Kathy Powell
Who we are
STAFF 2006-2007 Director: Gill Dowsett Assistant Director: Karen Chandler Admin Co-ordinator: Kathy Powell Counsellor: Gina Wood
VOLUNTEERS 2006-2007 Susan Watts-Barnes Richard Blincoe Sheila Knapp Fisher Ella Phillips Kez Phillips Stevie Jones Soozi Roberts Ewelina Wilk Hannah Baumeister Gianni Sonvico Ryan Leeke Eleri Griffiths Jamie Murphy Dean Murphy Maya Sonvico David Havard Jennifer Baxter Kate Wolstenholme Emily Nicholls Katie Leese Angelika Trawnischek Rowan Davies Emmy Beijdorff Kirsty Weedon Charlotte Stephens Kez Phillips Rosie Seymour Ed Stockham
SESSIONAL WORKERS 2006-2007 Deri Steele-Morgan Llew Jones Becky Hotchin Josie Coggins Heather Summers Miranda Betts Bethany Dowsett Ana Dowsett Hanah Rackham Daniel Backhouse
TRUSTEES 2006-2007 Lorraine Sherman (Chair) Andrew Elliott (Treasurer) Libby Burn (Secretary) Charlotte Stephens Ron Woodall (Vice Chair) Caryl Stock Sheila Knapp Fisher Bubsy Steele-Morgan Hannah Baumeister (volunteer rep)
IN 2006-2007 THEATR FFORWM CYMRU WAS REPRESENTED ON…. YPP Emotional Health Steering Group
Thank Yous
To Our Funders – The Welsh Assembly Government Active Community Scheme, BBC Children in Need, the Arts Council of Wales, the Baring Foundation, Millennium Volunteers, European funding via Connect Youth and Arts Council ESF funding; the Social Risk Fund (for Base 64); the Big Lottery (for Base 64); Sustainable Pembrokeshire; Lloyds TSB Foundation; the Electoral Commission, (for Base 64); to all those we have worked with this year and to our trustees and volunteers for unstinting support and work.
If you would like to see our 2006-2007 accounts, please contact us and we will be happy to provide these by email or hard copy.
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