The Stage

Chickenshed outreach project needs to find £50k

Published Wednesday 8 September 2010 at 17:04 by Natalie Woolman

Chickenshed Theatre Company’s outreach project Shed@ThePark in Buckinghamshire needs to raise £50,000 to secure its future.

The inclusive theatre company, which runs weekly dance, music and drama workshops for more than 100 young people, needs the money to cover its running costs.

Shed@ThePark chairman Irene Perrin said the “traditional funding pots” that the company had pursued in the past are now “drying up” and it is facing increased competition from other projects seeking financial support. She added that £50,000 would cover the company’s running costs until July next year.

Perrin said: “We are unique in the area, we are the only organisation that takes children of all abilities, no doors are closed. For some children, for example a brother and sister one of whom has special needs, the other who doesn’t, for the first time in their lives have been able to come to one after-school activity together and be treated as equal. We are not a disabled theatre, we are not an able-bodied theatre. We are totally inclusive.”

The funds raised will go towards paying the workshop staff, as the administration associated with the company is done by voluntary workers and the spaces where the workshops take place are used rent-free. The group will continue to apply to trusts and foundations.

Shed@thePark is an inclusive theatre company and students who are unable to pay the standard membership fee are subsidised. It does not receive any financial support from Chickenshed.