Earlier this year, NAYD conducted a Youth Theatre Support Survey nationally, that was designed to identify specific needs that youth theatres have at this difficult time of contracting resources.

Despite the different models of youth theatres in Ireland, there was broad agreement across all the youth theatres on a number of specific areas that youth theatres felt NAYD might be in a position to support them.

The main themes to emerge were:

• Advice and Information on Financial Support
• Relief Facilitation
• Training in Specific Theatre skills/Drama Techniques
• Leadership Training for Young Leaders
• Raise Profile and Value of Youth Theatre Nationally
• Broker Space Locally – Workshop and Performance
• Cluster Meetings of Youth Theatres
• Succession Planning in Youth Theatres
• Recruitment and Retention of Members
• Advocacy and Lobbying

As a result of this work we are introducing a new Youth Theatre Support Scheme that will have three categories:

Theatre Skills Training

Are there specific theatre skills (i.e. movement/voice etc) that your youth theatre members could benefit from that you don’t have the skills to deliver? Just identify the skill and facilitator to deliver the training and NAYD will support up to four sessions in your youth theatre.

Drama Facilitation Support

Do you ever just need time off from your youth theatre to re-charge your batteries or do you need someone to relieve a facilitator over a few weeks? NAYD will support up to four sessions of relief drama facilitation in your youth theatre.

Youth Theatre Partnership

Have you ever met another youth theatre leader or group and felt that you would like to bring your youth theatres together? NAYD will pay the travel and venue costs for up to three youth theatres to come together over a day to workshop, share skills and build future partnerships.

If you are interested in any of these areas we will soon be adding more information and details of how to apply to our website (www.nayd.ie/resources/show/ytsupports). There will be a limited amount of money available in 2010 for this scheme so applications will be assessed using strict criteria.

We will also hold a series of cluster meetings around the country in the Autumn that will have a workshop component to them for youth theatre directors and leaders.

We look forward to meeting you then.

Orlaith