Creating Change Quality Principles
Pilot 3 Case Study
Cardboard Citizens: ACT NOW
ACT NOW is our performing arts programme for young people (aged 16-25) who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. As well as developing creative skills, it helps them build confidence, qualifications and experience, gateways to further learning and employment, and build positive relationships that help them become safer, healthier and happier.
ACT NOW is unique in its identity as a homeless young people’s theatre programme in London, engaging young people in theatre-relatedactivities, providinga support network, and enabling them to raise public awareness of the issues surrounding youth homelessness. ACT NOW is designed to add value to the important work carried out by housing organisations so that, whilst we work hard to ensure that our participants have their basic needs met, our key focus is to help them build their self-esteem, nurture their creativity, and achieve a real sense of belonging –the essentials for moving away from homelessness.
ACT NOW provides workshops (weekly and intensive) leading to performances at the end of each term. These are devised by our participants, and aim to spark debate about a particular issue faced by vulnerable young people.
The workshops culminate in an annual showcase production. Historically, a general public audience was invited to celebrate the achievements of the programme and young people throughout the year. Recently, this production has acknowledged the achievements of ACT NOW alumni over a longer period, by employing five young people as professional actors on a Forum Theatre project which was performed to school’s audiences.
Funded by:Henry Smith Charity, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation
Length of project: Ongoing
Quality Principle 7. Developing a sense of ownership and belonging
At Cardboard Citizens we take the issues of belonging very seriously for all our members, not just our young people. Once people become members, our office and facilities are available for internet access; printing C.V’s; Information Advice and Guidance services and general support. This creates a family atmosphere in the office where members feel welcomed, safe and comfortable.
This sense of belonging helps members feel they have a safe place to come even, if there is instability in other areas of their lives. This also helps up to be in touch with people, keeping them inspired and motivated. Equally, it’s great an opportunity for everyone in the office not just member-facing staff, tospend time with our members. It reminds us why we do the work we do and makes sure we don’t lose touch with the reality of those we are working for.
Our practical artistic work also promotes a sense of ownership.UsingTheatre of the Oppressed methodology means each project is rooted in the interest, experiences and stories of those involved. We engage in a constant and open conversation with the group, about themselves and the project design, building artistic work around the results of this dialogue. Consequently, projects cantake unexpected directions, asone idea, orissue, takes precedence over another, when uncovered through the process. We are sensitive and flexible when this happens, responding to the feedback of the group. This means that groups feel ownership of, and responsibility for, projects which encourages them to see it through. The value that we place on people’s stories, as important and interesting, creates a safe space for people to share them.
The sense that people belong to Cardboard Citizens is demonstrated by them regularly bringing friends along to join our projects. When someone gets a new job or some good news, this is shared and celebrated by all the staff, not just those working directly with that young person. When the group arrives in our space in the morning to work, they claim it as their own by making cups of tea and playing their music. This is the atmosphere we encourage, where young people can have the time and space to simply be, and feel safe and welcomed.
Quality Principle 6. Providing a sense of personal progression
Engage – Inspire – Commit – Achieve
We embed strong aspects of personal progression within all our work, to enable each young person to feel inspiration and achievement.
When members first sign up at Cardboard Citizens, we offer one-on-one Information, Advice and Guidance,to assess their current situation and to identify what they want in the future. This allows us to plan how we can best support them to achieve these goals together. We are constantly aware of and listening out for other ambitions which young people might have and, where possible, we direct them to other opportunities in that area.
At the beginning of every intensive project, participants are asked to identify and write down their goals for the project, along with associated hopes and fears. This note is sealed in an envelope and kept at the office.It’s an opportunity for the young person toset personal goals, aside from the structured goals of the project. At the end of the project the envelope is returned for the young person to open and read. It is always an emotional moment when participants reflect on their journey through the project, often exceeding the goals they set for themselves.
The group also identifies its shared objective for the project,before listing the qualities needed to achieve these objectives. The workshops are then designed to develop and practice these qualities using targeted drama games and exercises. In this way, young people are able to see their personal progress and how it has contributed to the success of the objective as a whole.
In addition to personal goal setting, we embed qualifications into our work, which result in tangible evidence of young people’s progression. In all ACT NOW projects we deliver PEARL (Personal Employability, Achievement and Reflection for Learning) an accessible and flexible qualification which focuses on five constructs: self awareness, social skills, managing feelings, empathy and motivation. Members begin at the level appropriate to them and work up, within that level. We also embed Arts Award, Bronze and Silver within project design.
After a project ends, we signpost young people onto other opportunities, creative or otherwise. We also continue to provide Information, Advice and Guidance as needed and use our partnerships across London to match projects to the particular needs, skills and interests of young people. After a recent project with five young actors, three went on to other courses or paid work at BAC, Only Connect and the Roundhouse. They all felt their employability had increased since the start of the project.
We also offer internal opportunities for progression for our young people once they have completed a project with us. These include peer mentoring, volunteering and more recently paid employment as actors during some projects. When these opportunities are available and appropriate, they allow us to continue to support that young person as they add to their skills and progress with us.