Press Release

10 February 2012

NEW FUNDING GIVES GO-AHEAD TO ARTS PROJECT

A generous donation from Jimbo's Fund, a fund set up by the late Leeds businessman and philanthropist Jimi Heselden, has enabled creative young people aged 10-15 with Asperger’s Syndrome to access a series of tailored workshops run by Opera North.

The donation of £19,000 has provided funding for two groups of young people from Leeds with Asperger’s Syndrome, an autistic spectrum disorder, to take part in Vervecreative workshops at Opera North from January to March 2012.

The workshops include a range of creative disciplines including movement, narrative, song, composition, set and costume design, with the aim of raising self-esteem and levels of confidence as well as communication and social skills. The young people taking part are working with a director, composer, designer and singer to create a devised piece of musical theatre that will be presented to family and invited guests at the end of the project.

Opera North has been delivering annual projects for young people with Asperger’s Syndrome in Leeds since 2004, to great acclaim from participants, parents and clinicians. Many young people go on to take part in other Opera North education projects following participation in Verve.

Rebecca Walsh, Head of Education at Opera North, comments:

“Young people with Asperger’s Syndrome can struggle with communication, social interaction and responding to change. For these reasons they often feel isolated and may lack self-esteem and confidence.

“Verve provides young people with opportunities to deal with these social and behavioural challenges in a creative and sociable context. Opera North is immensely grateful to Jimbo’s Fund and the Leeds Community Foundation for not only making this project possible but enabling us to extend it and engage artists from a wider range of disciplines, which will result in a more rounded and fulfilling experience for the participants.”

Sally-Anne Greenfield, Chief Executive of the Leeds Community Foundation, which manages Jimbo’s Fund, comments:

“Jimbo’s Fund provides a range of grants to local projects primarily in East Leeds but also has a strong focus on health. The main focus of the Fund is about giving local people new opportunities. The Verve project is an excellent way to support young people with Asperger’s Syndrome and the grants panel were delighted to support it.”

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For further information and images, please contact:

Hannah Stockton, Press & PR Assistant

0113 223 3528

Julia Gregg, Press Officer

0113 223 3522

Lindsey Porter, Press & PR Manager

0113 223 3526

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