Access Theatre Company
ABOUT
Access Theatre Company is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation run by five trustees and four volunteers. They aim to promote arts and inclusion for adults with disabilities and can include their carers. They do this through drama productions and performances.
There are currently 16 group members who meet weekly at Launceston Town Hall for drama and dance activities. All the members are supported by volunteers and carers where needed to take part fully in all the activities, including the decisions about which projects they want to undertake. They employ an experienced professional theatre practitioner to lead the group on a sessional basis.
REQUEST FOR FUNDING
Access Theatre Company were awarded a grant of £1,000 for support in funding a creative enabler. The creative enabler works alongside the members, to create and undertake their drama activity. This extra resource was vital to the company, thus ensuring that all members could take part and participate fully.
In recent years they feel that support for people with disabilities have disappeared. Launceston Day Centre, for example, has ceased to exist, and this was part of the day care provision for disabled people in the area. They feel that the post of enabler enables people to access local theatre who would otherwise not be able to do this and helps them to feel a valued part of the community.
MEETING THE AIMS OF THE FUND
This application met all the fund criteria as it has enabled company members to keep connected with the arts and to feel less isolated in the difficult years. This support has benefited individuals and their wider families and contributed to maintaining people’s health and wellbeing physically, mentally, and emotionally.
THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND
SWPA work with our members and South West Community Matters to distribute grants of up to £1,000 to local projects and causes. The overall aim of the programme is to increase community facilities and community benefits particularly, for those most in need, in local communities.
The focus is on activities that enable people from diverse backgrounds to become engaged in their neighbourhoods and communities and to support those organisations that are bringing about real change in the lives of the people who live in those communities.
For the full case study, use this link.
