Prospero Theatre is thrilled to announce a new large-scale educational project for 2017. The project is called Mind Fit and Creative and Prospero will be working with over 30 schools across Surrey including 15 from Tandridge.
Director Beth Wood explained: ‘The Mind Fit and Creative project is funded by The Community Foundation for Surrey and Gatwick Trust. We are lucky to be working again with Sarah Davison at Tandridge Education Partnership. Sarah obviously knows the schools very well and can make sure that even the small village schools don’t miss out.
‘We have been doing Mindfulness work in schools since Prospero was launched in May 2015. In special schools we have been combining Mindfulness with emotional literacy to focus on communication. We are now in term three of our work with Sunnydown School in Caterham, which has been incredibly rewarding. Sunnydown is a wonderfully progressive school who are gradually building mindfulness into every aspect of the learning.’
‘The Mind Fit and Creative programme is a development from Prospero’s work at Sunnydown and other Surrey and London schools. A year ago the company began working with cognitive specialist Andy Barker and this has moved our work forward. Mind Fit and Creative blends Mindfulness and CBT, but also uses Drama and Active Learning, REBT and a few aspects of Drama Therapy. It focuses on the links between creativity, aspiration and resilience.’
It is acknowledged that stress and anxiety in young people are reaching critical levels. This is a programme which teaches young people how to manage their emotions and bring their anxiety under control. It also works to release creativity and potential.’
As with all Prospero’s work the sessions are designed to be accessible and inclusive and delivered in a way that makes them interesting and fun! And every pupil gets a worksheet with the exercises on so that they can carry on developing the new skills.
‘We have been really lucky to get funding for small projects from Surrey County Council, Tandridge Council, The Community Foundation for Surrey, The Peter Harrison Foundation, Third World Foundation,The Caterham on the Hill Parish Council, The Downlands Trust and Comic Relief. This is, however, our biggest chunk of funding so far and so the reach of the project for the first time is extensive. We are really looking forward to working with so many schools, especially on such a valuable and worthwhile project. We will also be doing Mind Fit and Creative with a handful of community groups such as ESRA and The Orpheus Centre.’
Prospero also does Mind Fitness work for Corporates and for Performers, working with forward-looking businesses and many of the top drama schools and training academies. For further details about any of the work please contact Beth on bethwood@prosperotheatre.com
