A new national inclusion programme, run in partnership with National Youth Theatre of Great Britain
National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and National Youth Arts Wales have partnered with non-mainstream schools in Wales as part of an exciting new programme, Assemble.
The project will take place between Autumn 2023 and Spring 2025, with National Youth Theatre of Great Britain also delivering the project across London and Manchester. National Youth Arts Wales is the partner for the Welsh programme and is currently working with three schools across South Wales, delivering creative workshops and providing cultural visits in partnership with local arts centres to empower youth voices and build local inclusive community networks.
The initiative aims to bring together young disabled people and volunteers, fostering support and cultivating new friendships centred around a shared interest in creativity and the arts. Through collaboration with cultural partners, the project will connect the collective to existing programmes and future employment opportunities, whilst providing pathways for young disabled individuals to advance into membership with the NYAW ensembles and projects and the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.
Delivered by expert and emerging facilitators, the project is tailored to each school individually and explores creative practices, expanding the young peoples’ interests in the arts whilst boosting their confidence as individuals. NYAW are delighted to be able to deliver this project across art forms in South Wales - incorporating music, dance and drama into creative activity and enhancing how the young people involved can develop, communicate and grow.
Ysgol y Deri, Penarth
Credit: NYAW
In the first term at Ysgol y Deri we got to know each other through drama games and exercises, becoming more comfortable sharing personal information, which led to us creating and exchanging self-portraits to learn more about one another. We also learned songs, played instruments, and danced together, boosting our confidence in drama games. This led to some group members feeling confident enough to lead games independently, creating a dynamic and inclusive atmosphere.
In the second term, we continued our exploration with fortnightly sessions focused on the theme of 'Ensemble.' We collaborated to establish a group contract, setting clear guidelines for our future work together. Engaging in storytelling exercises, we acted out scenarios, responding to each other's actions to create narratives. Additionally, we prepared for a theatre trip by delving into the experience of attending a live performance. Our collective learning extended to creating tableaus inspired by shared stories, such as 'The Ugly Duckling.'
Some key highlights of working with this group have included the development of relationships between participants, freelance staff, and volunteers. It has been lovely to see friendships forming and respectful understanding growing.
“Assemble has been an absolute blast so far! It’s been a privilege to share such an open and inclusive space with so many wonderful young people and to play, build relationships and have fun. Every week something amazing happens”
Ysgol Crug Glas, Swansea
Credit: Michelle McTernan
Sessions at Ysgol Crug Glas began from January 2024 onwards. In the first term, we joined together to create a group contract using paints and art materials, outlining clear guidelines for our working together going forward. Exploring the themes of 'Self' and 'Ensemble,' we reflected on our home country, Wales, considering its significance to both individuals and the group. Each session was accompanied by a curated soundtrack from Michelle, and warm-up exercises led by Course Assistant Ffion.
Together, we have crafted a poem inspired by the colours of the Welsh flag. Our journey has also included creating sensory and interactive environments, such as underwater and countryside experiences, while addressing the consequences of neglecting these spaces. Throughout, we explored the emotions tied to different environments and the impact of caring for them. Notable moments included participants independently contributing to sensory environments, poems, and workshop content, engaging in messy play for meaningful fun, and witnessing diverse responses to sensory experiences that catered to individual preferences.
“I loved my first session in Swansea, such a lush team and such amazing young people, I was really impressed! Ffi is a fantastic Course Assistant too! ”
Greenfield School, Pentrebach
Credit: Lisa Parry
The initial sessions at Greenfield School focused on self-expression and building connections among the young people. Each session commenced with storytelling and gradually incorporating elements of music and rhythm, leading to imaginative activities. This latest session centred on crafting a short story that fit with a defined rhythm, with potential for further development into a song. Emphasising the theme of self, whilst also building connections within the group: particularly useful exercises have been asking everyone 'What would you like to be known for?' and sharing qualities that they love in someone else from the group.
Despite the relaxed nature of the sessions, student engagement remained consistently high throughout the duration. Notably, the young people all added to a collective group playlist which served as an integral component of the sessions. The inclusive and participatory nature of these activities facilitated a sense of community among participants, resulting in a positive and enriching experience for all involved.
“It’s been a lovely three weeks at Greenfield! Thank you so much everyone for your support and for contributing to some brilliant sessions with this wonderful group of young people. The sessions have been very gentle, but the group are super receptive and enthusiastic - they’ve been a joy to work with and it’s been really rewarding to see many of them open up throughout our three weeks together.”
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