 Base 64 is Theatr Fforwm Cymru’s youth forum theatre group which, with up to 30 regular members, has become one of the most well-attended young people’s groups in the whole of Pembrokeshire.
Base 64 was formally established in June 2004, with several workshops and sessions pre-dating that. It meets every Monday from 7ish – 9ish term-time and also in most holidays
Base 64 is very different from traditional youth groups – the focus is on creating a safe space where we can “drop the masks” and explore what it means to be ourselves. We do this using forum theatre, transactional analysis, games, circles, various art forms – and a little bit of making it up as we go along
As well as Monday sessions, Base is exploited mercilessly by Theatr Fforwm Cymru, its “parent” charity. In the recent past, Base members have volunteered to:
- Help run a workshop for travellers’ kids
- Help create the Theatr Fforwm Cymru DVD
- Help run a workshop at South West Youth Fest
- Assist with the design of the Theatr Fforwm Cymru website
- Complete grant applications for future Base projects
- Set up a fund-raising sub-committee
- Run a Halloween party in Goodwick and a film afternoon in Fishguard
- Come to Theatr Fforwm Cymru on work experience
 Exchanges are also a crucial part of Base – the largest so far being the Agora in 2006 (a multi-lateral exchange based in Wales and focussing on young people and democracy). As hosts, Base 64 members were hugely involved, from fund-raising to developing a myspace site, from publicity to cleaning, and from helping shape the exchange to acting as completely committed and inspirational hosts, helping to make everyone welcome and leading by example. Base also went to Romania in August 2005, and is a part of the Drums for Peace European network which offers other exchange opportunities. We hope there will be a chance for some members of Base to visit Portugal in July 2007, subject to a successful grant application
 Base also likes to let members know about the EVS scheme, where young people aged 18-25 are funded by the EU to do voluntary work in another country for 3, 6 or 12 months. We welcome Theatr Fforwm Cymru’s EVS volunteers each year who become an integral part of Base (please see “People” section of the website for more information about our EVS volunteers, and a link to ICP, an EVS host/sending organisation.)
Base members aged 16+ can also become accredited Millennium Volunteers if they do additional voluntary work with Theatr Fforwm Cymru – useful for the CV!
There are plans for more Base groups – in South Pembrokeshire, Pencadr and Bridgend in early 2007, with areas such as Blaenau Ffestiniog and Vienna(!) also showing an interest .
If you work with young people and are interested in breaking away from the “X-box and pool table” model, contact us for more information about setting up a Base group.
And if you’re a young person from Pembrokeshire aged 13-18, contact us about becoming a part of Base 64.
- “We’re all a bit different in one way or another– that’s why we feel at home here”
- “Base is a safe environment where I feel comfortable challenging my perceptions of people, government and myself.”
 
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