Gamechangers Emerging Leaders

Could you be a Gamechanger?

photo: a young woman is sitting on a chair. She is wearing pink and pale blue matching trousers and top. She is leaning back, looking straight at the camer and smiling whilst holding her hands up pretending to take a photograph back at the person with the camera!

Join DIY’s Emerging Leaders group!

Last term we explored:

  • Accessible evaluation, making sure that everyone understands how to give important feedback.
  • How to plan sessions with different groups, we created workshops plans that can be used in future workshops.

Our Autumn/Winter term has now begun

Sessions are held every Monday evening, 5.30pm to 7pm. These take place at Langworthy Cornerstone, 451 Liverpool Street, Salford, M6 5QQ 

Gamechangers Emerging Leaders Group is an encouraging and friendly space where emerging leaders with lived experience of learning disability support one another to develop their facilitation and leadership skills in the arts.

As Gamechangers Emerging Leaders group we created lots of really cool work this year, leading up to our 30th Birthday celebrations in June and our Autumn/Winter term is just as exciting!

Why not join us?

We have lots of space for new Emerging Leaders to join us, our sessions are a fun, creative and inclusive space to explore arts leadership skills. If you or someone you know is aged 14+ and has a learning disability who may be interested in learning new skills, meeting new people and building confidence, then please get in touch with Molly Stedman – molly.stedman@diytheatre.org.uk

Our group wanted to highlight all of the brilliant skills they gained this year and have their own leadership portfolios. Click here to see them.

You can keep up to date with our Gamechangers Programme on DIY’s social media, (links in the Connect with us panel below).

 

 

We are very grateful for the support of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for DIY’s Gamechangers programme.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation logo

 

 

Circus Tricks

‘Circus Tricks’ is a Circus Inspired Music and Drama project created by DIY Theatre Company’s Young Leaders Group. It is aimed at children and young people with learning disabilities.

Originally, ‘Circus Tricks!’ was designed as a live, promenade piece of theatre that would tour to schools and youth organisations during Autumn 2020. During Lockdown, DIY’s Young Leaders continued to connect and stay creative via Zoom, telephone and postal packs. They have collaborated with professional musicians and animators to transform ‘Circus Tricks!’ into a series of Animated Videos and a supporting Participatory Activity Pack.

You can join in with Circus Tricks in a classroom, or at home using things you can find around school / home. To watch the videos and access our resource pack head to our Circus Tricks page

Arts Award

We offer the Arts Award Qualifications (Levels Explore – Gold) across Passing the Baton Youth Arts Programmes.

Silver and Gold are recognised as Levels 2 and 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework, and Gold Arts Award is worth 16 UCAS points. Arts Award is available to young people up to the age of 25 years.

Through the Arts Award young people have the opportunity to develop their artistic practise and gain employability skills. They will demonstrate a positive attitude, willingness to learn, excellent time keeping and organisation skills and the ability to be flexible. By sharing their work with others, young people develop their personal presentation, communication and self-promotion.

Click to learn more about the Arts Award

In 2020 :

  • Scott and Adam both achieved their Silver Arts Award – a Level 2 qualification. They had to complete most of their portfolio’s whilst working remotely during Lockdown.
  • Amy achieved a Gold Arts Award, also mainly during Lockdown. Gold is a Level 3 qualification and this is a first for a DIY member and we are very proud!

Adam

Adam developed his music technician skills, and supported supported the Youth Drama Group, co-leading weekly sessions and arranging the catering and advertising for a public sharing event. When the planned ‘Circus Tricks’ celebration event in March was cancelled due to Covid-19, Adam adapted his challenge and created posters and Facebook adverts promoting Scott’s Radio Show on Facebook Live.

It feels good to get my Silver. I put in a lot of hard work. It was difficult doing it during Lockdown. Big thumbs up from me!”

Scott

Scott plays the Ringmaster in DIY’s show ‘Circus Tricks’, and for his Arts Challenge developed his hosting and presentation skills – which were very necessary to keep the rest of the circus characters in check!! For his Leadership Challenge, Scott was preparing for the ‘Circus Tricks’ performance, scheduled for March, and was working with others to arrange the catering, evaluation and presentation on the night. Due to Covid-19, the performance was cancelled, and Scott quickly adapted his challenge. ‘Scott’s Radio Show’ was a weekly feature on Facebook Live, where Scott developed his DJ, communication and broadcasting skills – playing music to make us all smile during Lockdown.

The news today was amazing. I passed my Arts Award with flying colours and I was a little bit worried about doing it from home and everything but it seems to have paid off and I’m going to get a lovely certificate at the end of it. I feel a bit emotional at the moment.”

Amy

Amy’s Arts Award Journey adapted to the challenges of Covid-19 and Lockdown, and she completed most of her portfolio whilst in social isolation. Amy collaborated with professional film-maker Hilary Easter-Jones to create a series of films including the ‘Confusion’ Film which is part of DIY’s performance Following Patient 36. Amy also created a ‘Top Tips’ film which she used to support other DIY members to capture good quality footage whilst at home. This footage was used to create ‘I Wish Everything Was Back to Normal: DIY’s views of Lockdown’, and Amy organised a YouTube premier to share this film with the public. This has now been viewed on You Tube over 300 times! Congratulations Amy!

Before Lockdown, I only went out once to film – and that was a practise – we were supposed to be going out more, but then Lockdown happened, so that practise was the only footage I had and I used that to do the film!!

Gold was hard because I was on my own doing it! If other people had the opportunity to do it, I say go for it, but not just at home alone – it’s hard.

I feel fantastic – I put all my work into it I feel really great. I made Hilary work and she made me work!!