Supported Places Scheme

Our Supported Places Scheme enables young people who would not usually have the means to access this kind of opportunity to join the Skills Courses in partnership with a referring youth organisation.

YMT is a registered charity, whose principal aim is the personal and creative development of 11 – 21 year olds through the medium of music theatre.

Our open access Skills Courses are intensive one week residential music theatre workshops in which young people are active contributors in the devising and producing of new music theatre. During the six days participants work with theatre professionals to improve skills in drama, music and dance using techniques including improvising, script & lyric writing and movement. Additionally the young people make great leaps in confidence as they are away from home, meeting new people and working collaboratively.

Our Supported Places Scheme enables young people who do not have the means to access this kind of opportunity to join the Skills Courses in partnership with a referring youth organisation. A Supported Place can work in many ways, such as skills based training for a talented young person or as a vehicle for integration for someone who is socially excluded in some way. Whatever the motivation for joining the programme, the young people have fun, achieve something tangible and make new lifelong friends.

The full cost of a Supported Place is £650, of which ideally the organisation would pay half and we will pay the remainder through our Hardship Fund. If £325 per student is an unobtainable amount then we are happy to negotiate, but we only have a limited amount of funds available and would like to see these go to help as many young people as possible. However, as an educational charity, we don’t ever want anyone to be excluded from our work for financial reasons.

It is up to the organisation how to raise the contribution towards the course fee. Some organisations we are currently working with have covered the cost of the places themselves from funds available for similar positive activities, some apply to local trusts and others work directly with the young people to fundraise through events, sponsorship etc. You will find a document at the bottom of this page with lots of help and advice for how to fundraise. All we ask is that the students you refer have enthusiasm for the performing arts and would not be able to participate without support from yourselves and YMT.

The Fees include full board and accommodation, tuition, pastoral care and a YMT t-shirt. All staff have an Enhanced CRB Check and there is a staffing ratio of between 5 and 8 to 1. Travel is the only thing not included.

"They never gave up on me. Even though at times I wanted to give up - they never did. They just kept encouraging me...When I'm here there are kids in my position (who don't have parents) who I can talk to. Nobody judges me like they do when I'm at home...I think I will come out of this a better person" Ryan, 17, York Summer Skills 2011 referred by East Riding Council Pathways Team.

"Ian is said to have 'absolutely loved it' and wants to attend again next year. He has joined their mailing group, identified and joined a local theatre group. (His foster carer) commented on the significant impact the break has had on Ian. He recently presented with more confidence and increased self esteem." Richard Simpson, Children and Young People's Services, North Somerset Council

You can see more experiences from 2011 in our video here

If you are interested in referring young people or would like to discuss our Supported Places Scheme in more detail please contact Anne on 0844 415 4858 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Wednesdays only)