Streets Alive is a youth theatre company working with 16-25 year olds who are homeless or have experience of homelessness. Following three months of outreach work to hostels and day centres Streets Alive recruit young people to rehearse and perform in two shows each year (a summer project performed in open spaces and a winter tour which visits schools). Streets Alive is a registered charity overseen by a voluntary board of trustees. There are three full time members of staff, Denise Wong - Artistic Director, Barbara van Heel, General Manager and Mike Sells - Outreach Worker.
Funding outreach worker for drama project with young people
The grant enables the outreach programme to run twice a year. During each programme Outreach Worker runs twelve weeks of drop in workshops in various day centres and young peoples hostels in London. Between November 2001 and January 2002 66 young people attended one or more workshops within the venues. 12 young people then moved on to train full time with the outreach programme at the Union Chapel involving eight weeks of rehearsals tutored by visiting practitioners. Resulting performance 'Older State of Mind' performed at Union Chapel by thirteen young people covered diverse issues such as estrangement from family home, being released from prison and debt. There is a planned schools tour for January 2003.
The outreach workshops have been a welcome addition to life skills programme within organisations working with young homeless people. As a result vulnerable young people are participating more fully with their neighbours, learning group work skill, reflecting on experiences and looking at models for change in their own behaviour and in the behaviour of organisations that they come into contact with.
Research in to achieving LOCN (London Open College Network) accreditation for the training young people receive through Streets Alive is currently taking place.
Email: MikeSells@streetsalive.org.uk or Barbaravanheel@streetsalive.org.uk
Website: www.streetsalive.org.uk
