Woodville and the Community

1. Woodville and the Community Building partnerships for the future

2. What have we done? • Since 2011 Woodville has openly engaged with the community • Over 30 volunteers aged 17-80 • Established an Education & Outreach program • Led theatre workshops with local schools • Received £1,200 from Alpha Bridging Solutions Ltd & £950 from GBC to fund workshops and activities

3. Woodville Volunteers A much needed scheme managed by Martin Fairs, Deputy General Manager. Volunteers enjoy a hot drink and cake during every shift, get to see shows and film and are invited to a Christmas Party and Summer supper as a thank you for their support. None of the above are the reasons they volunteer – they want to be part of their community. “I love volunteering at the Woodville as it is a great way to meet different people, make new friends and see some shows.  Us volunteers are made to feel very welcome and valued.” A. Wright

4. “I love volunteering at the Woodville as it is a great way to meet different people, make new friends and see some shows.  Us volunteers are made to feel very welcome and valued” A. Wright “Volunteering at the Woodville gives me the opportunity to work with a fantastic team of professionals and to see some great shows” E. Stuart “Volunteering at the Woodville is a very rewarding experience, especially if like me you love going to the theatre and cinema anyway. Everyone is appreciative of your help. You can be involved as much or as little as you want to be. By giving something back to the local community, you in return have the opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and keep mentally and physically active” Chris C (recently taken early retirement). "I love theatre of any sort and enjoy the company and mix of the other volunteers.  I gain more than I give and by giving our support voluntarily we probably enable the Woodville to provide a wider and more varied programme for the pleasure of all” Anne King

5. Claire Goatham Claire is a local actress and theatre practitioner. She has worked for many years in the bars at Woodville. Claire brings great local knowledge and connections schools to the heart of our programming. Feed back forms received post event/work shop are always positive and help us evaluate our product.

6. Some of the schools we have worked with in 2013 • Higham Primary • Longfield Academy • Christ Church Hall • Ifield School • Meopham Primary School • Chantry Primary School • Cubs & Brownies Tours (& Bullying Workshop) • Does not include schools groups that have attended set text works

7. “Claire established a safe and stimulating environment and was able to stretch and challenge students of all abilities” T. Martin, Ifield School “Thank you for making the workshop so much fun and so enjoyable for all the children” R. White, Wrotham Road Primary School “We used BIGFOOT Theatre Company last year for a similar performance but were a lot more impressed with the outcome of the workshop led by The Woodville. We will definitely loo in to this in the future” L.McEllistrum, Higham Primary School

8. “Thank you for letting us come along , I hope it will be the first of many visits. If you want to brainstorm about links to the curriculum do let me know” C. Leonard, Chantry Primary School “It was fantastic. . . . . I have already recommended it to one other leader in Dartford and will be recommending it to all the others at a future leaders meeting” Sarah Green, Stone Birch Cub Pack, Theatre Tour and Workshop. “…A big thank you for a great workshop…a fantastic experience enjoyed by staff and students” H. Rennie, Longfield Academy

9. Woodville Theatre For Youth started in September 2012 • Teaching skills for life, not just the theatre • Aged 6-14 • building trust, confidence and developing talent

10. “…It’s fun, you make new friends and it definitely keeps you busy – I love WTFY” Tayla “Well done guys for a fantastic performance! So so proud! Claire, thank you so much for your input.. Tayla's confidence has grown so much and he really enjoyed being on stage! Keep doing what you're doing gang” Tayla’s Mum

11. Woodville Theatre for Youth is not just a place where young • people can develop their skills as performers it also offers a • vital outlet for those that might struggle to achieve and find • direction at school. • One member of the group battled daily to feel settled and • happy at school and I know through numerous conversations • with his mother that Woodville Theatre For Youth is the one • place where he really pushes himself, feels part of a team and • has found a passion that makes him strive to be better. • To hear praise is so important for his self-esteem and • development and it is equally important for his mother to hear • positive feedback about her son rather than the regular • complaints about bad behaviour from his school. • Claire Goatham – Education & Outreach Coordinator

12. The Benefits • Our volunteers have given us greater flexibility in the deployment of paid casual staff and given members of the community a stake in their local venue. Over 1500 shifts were carried out by our volunteers in 2013 • Our Education & Outreach connections allows us to listen to schools – ensuring we present works that fit with their curriculum, developing a new audience of young Gravesham residents

13. Where do we go from here? • We will work with the team that set up the hugely successful Hazlitt Youth Theatre to increase attendance of our Youth Theatre • Engage more theatre companies to perform in our studio – curriculum based theatre (Macbeth in Pitch Black & Peter Pan were a huge success) • Use our volunteers to steward the gallery to help ascertain response and opinion on this area • Our partnership with MBP pantomimes will further enhance our education links with schools • KCC Arts Officer, Laura Bailey recommends we apply for match funding to obtain technical equipment that we can use to teach with • Continue to make Woodville a venue that people in Gravesham feel a connection with • We cannot underestimate how much good will and support our outreach project generates