Rehearsals have now started for an amazing piece of theatre to be performed at the Corporate Parenting Conference in November.
Oldham Theatre Workshop will use drama to explore the lives of looked after children and the big issues that affect them as they make the transition to adulthood.
The Corporate Parenting Conference is an annual event aimed at senior officers, elected members and partners across Oldham Council and beyond. It aims to highlight the important role that all services can play in the development of these children and our responsibilities to include young people in all decision making.
Our young actors will perform five short pieces of drama and linked workshops at the event. After consultation with young people at the Union Street Centre these performances will cover education, employment, health, housing and finance topics.
The specially commissioned work will reinforce to delegates their legal and moral duty of care for all looked after children across Oldham. This includes children in care and foster care, young people in children’s homes and those under 24 hour care.
Zoë Charnock, Corporate Parenting Manager for Oldham Council who commissioned the play, said:
“We have full confidence in Oldham Theatre Workshop to deliver this project, promote our work and bring the issues to life. Using theatre we want to highlight our key message… that if it’s not good enough for your own kids then it’s not good enough for looked after children.”
The project is part of OTW's ongoing partnership work with looked after children, having recently created a cyber-bullying drama, radio pantomime and animation programme.
The company also took a group of young people in care to Auschwitz earlier this year as part of the 22nd Century Citizens project and they were heavily involved in our major summer production Shades of Grey.
Bernadette Deakin, Participation Officer for Oldham Council who ensures young people are involved with local services and the decision making process, said:
“We have been working with Oldham Theatre Workshop over the last two years and children have built a trusted relationship with them.”
“Through the Children in Care Council we created a new drama group to discuss and develop emotive issues in a safe environment,” continued Bernadette. “The work has been brilliant in boosting confidence and self esteem, allowing young people to develop creative skills and gain learning certificates for their portfolios.”
The Corporate Parenting Conference takes place on Tuesday 16 November in Oldham.