Lyric
The grant recipient
The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith produces world class contemporary theatre. It also has a professional and respected in-house education team dedicated to providing high quality creative learning programmes for young people.
The START programme
What it aims to do
- re-engage young people in learning
- raise their educational achievement
- give them access to further education
How it works
START is a short term education project for teenagers from West London. The young people who take part are at risk of being excluded or are no longer attending school. The programme runs for six weeks (24 hours a week) and consists of:
- drama and arts workshops – designed to build self confidence and self esteem
- one to one basic skills sessions – detailed work with a specialist tutor
START is delivered by artists, literacy specialists and peer mentors and is managed by Lyric’s education team.
Results
Many of the young people begin START with reading and numeracy skills equivalent to that of a six year old. The project pilot has shown students achieving basic skills qualifications at levels one and two (equivalent to GCSE), getting excited about learning and securing places in further education.
The funding
SHINE has made a grant to fund part of the delivery costs for this project. Additional funding is being provided by other trusts and foundations.
Funding: £90,000 to Lyric, over three years (2008-11)
Visit the Lyric's website: http://www.lyric.co.uk/
"The Lyric is a unique organisation where the work of our Creative Learning team is valued as highly as the work on our stages. Young people are the heart of all we do."
Director, Lyric
"START was a positive reason for getting out of the area in which I lived where there aren't many opportunities."
START Graduate
"I left school at 16 with one GCSE. I knew START was something I wanted to do. I am now 19, I have been given opportunities with different theatres and organisations, I’m being guided into a career that I believe I will succeed in and later this year I will be doing a diploma."
START Graduate
Quotes
"The Lyric is a unique organisation where the work of our Creative Learning team is valued as highly as the work on our stages. Young people are the heart of all we do."
Director, Lyric
"START was a positive reason for getting out of the area in which I lived where there aren't many opportunities."
START Graduate
"I left school at 16 with one GCSE. I knew START was something I wanted to do. I am now 19, I have been given opportunities with different theatres and organisations, I’m being guided into a career that I believe I will succeed in and later this year I will be doing a diploma."
START Graduate