An information and consultation event – 29^th March 2017

In March, staff at the University of Gloucestershire hosted the first ever UK meeting  to promote ARTPAD (Achieving Resilience through Play and Drama) to the play, youth and education sector.  This ambitious 3-year project has researched how play and drama is used in schools and youth projects in 5 European partner countries to help develop resilience in young people (Hungary, Poland, UK, Germany and Austria).  The project has developed a best practice guide for leaders of settings and is currently producing a course for practitioners.  As the event was held after the first year of research, the project event enabled staff to share the key findings so far and in particular the core principles established through the project.  The staff also provided inspirational lectures in play and drama techniques and how these can impact on the work of teachers, youth workers and playworkers.  This gave rise to a useful networking and ideas sharing discussion amongst the group which was really helpful to those who attended.

Events such as this are a vital way to promote the work of organisations and a wonderful opportunity to further the impact a project can make by getting news of the work out to a wide audience.  The event was well supported by Head teachers and teachers, staff from local drama education services and Play Organisations and attendees who travelled from as far afield as Torbay and Birmingham to hear about the project.

Leonie Burton from the University of Gloucestershire said of the day “it is so encouraging to hear how useful staff from Schools and Youth settings say the Guide and the course will be to them and how enthusiastic they were.  We are excited about the next stages of the project as we write the course and train new trainers in the UK who will be able to deliver this for us in the future.”

For anyone who is interested to find out more about the project and how they can benefit from the course development through pilots or accessing the training when it is completed – please contact team@playwork.co.uk