Two new Go North project workers have recently been appointed, and will start with the Company on Monday 2 November. Flora Toulson-Clarke is the new Go North Drama Worker, and will be delivering sessions with all four of the project youth theatre groups in Lawrence Weston and Avonmouth. Lucy Hunt is the Go North Project Support Worker, and will be supporting young people in their management of the project, and in their personal progression routes, including work towards youth arts awards.

Two recent funding decisions have secured acta’s youth theatre network for the next three years.

The Go North project, funded by the young people’s fund of the BLF, and led by a steering group of youth theatre members, will deliver four youth theatres in the North of the City, including a new group in Lawrence Weston for older young people (16 – 25 yrs) and a new group for children in Avonmouth (10-11 yrs). The project also allows us to extend the work of the existing L-Dubbers and Ace youth theatre groups in Lawrence Weston, which secured funding from Bristol City Council earlier this year.

Our youth theatre network, which also includes groups based at the acta centre in Bedminster – Who Cares youth theatre groups for young carers across the City, aged 10-13 yrs & 14-19 yrs, and Vibe youth theatre for young people aged 12-19 yrs in Bedminster – will benefit further from additional funding from the Lankelly Chase Foundation, to extend the hours of the acta Senior Drama Worker, Ingrid Jones.

acta is delighted to announce that Trustees of the Baring Foundation have recently awarded acta a three year core costs grant of £25,000 per year. Baring Foundation is keen to support acta’s plans to develop community theatre initiatives with refugees and asylum seekers in the City. The grant is particularly exciting for the Company, as it allows us to be flexible in our approach, as we develop our work with new communities in Bristol over the next three years.

Ace Youth Theatre, meeting at City of Bristol College in Lawrence Weston on Monday evenings, will be splitting into two groups, starting on Monday January 11, 2010. The new groups will be as follows:-

5.00 – 7.00pm –  Ace Youth Theatre, 11 – 16 yrs.

7.00 – 9.00pm – Ace Youth Theatre, 16 – 25 yrs.

The younger L-Dubbers Youth Theatre (8 – 11yrs.) will move to Tuesday evenings, starting from Tuesday 5 January, but at the same time of 5.00 – 6.30pm. The group will also move to a new venue at Our Lady of The Rosary School, Tide Grove, Lawrence Weston.

All three groups welcome new members.