Young people graduate from Connect programme
CentreStage and Ayrshire College celebrate the achievements over 50 young people
On Wednesday 17th May, over 50 young people from schools across East Ayrshire graduated from the Connect programme, a partnership programme between CentreStage and Ayrshire College which seeks to provide opportunities for young people not engaging fully with school.
The celebration event brought together all of the young people who took part this year along with their teachers and parents to showcase some of the impressive work they have been involved in.
This year, the young people were working towards Creative Industries Award Levels 4 and 5 for the first time, which focuses on developing basic knowledge and understanding of practical aspects of the creative industries. It is aimed at those who may want to explore the many activities and opportunities available in the creative industries sector, including: theatre and performance, television and radio broadcasting, music and video.
They supported our wider team in building and painting many of our sets for CentreStage shows such as Through The Deep Dark Wood, Elf and flagship show, The Wedding Singer. As well as creating 3D scene boxes which were entered in to a prestigious competition and many other creative activities.
CentreStage was also able to provide a wider range of skills, helping the young people work on their life skills, such as making soup and baking alongside our signature singing and performing opportunities which all went towards creating a holistic set of skills for them all.
Please watch our video for the highlights from their time with us:
Fiona Dippie, Creative Director at CentreStage said;
“CentreStage always provides a safe and inclusive environment for all people to thrive and the same could be said for the young people of Connect. For many of them, CentreStage has been a safe haven, a place of inclusion and somewhere to be themselves with no judgement”
The partnership between CentreStage and Ayrshire College will continue to develop this year as we see the launch of the NC Technical Theatre course which will run from CentreStage delivered by Ayrshire College tutors. We are excited to see more young people flourish in this area.
CentreStage Communities is a charity based in Kilmarnock. We operate with the ethos that anyone regardless of age, background or experience can take part in, and get life changing benefits from, taking part in the arts. Our arts and wellbeing campus hosts a range of partner organisations whose shared aim is to improve wellbeing and alleviate poverty in East Ayrshire.
