Young people in Worcestershire recently took to the stage at the Palace Theatre in Redditch in a hard hitting set of performances to illustrate to practitioners and young people across the county their experiences of being in care.

Centrepoint works directly with young people in Worcestershire through the “We Care” project which supports young people from care experienced backgrounds and at risk of mental health problems. The project has enabled the group of young people to become youth educators; to support their peers using their first hand understanding and knowledge. The theatre event celebrated their efforts and achievements and through innovative methods combining drama, technology and their experiences of life in care, the 15 young people aged between 16 and 22, worked to actively engage with practitioners and decision makers, influencing decisions which affect their lives.

At any time there are some 60,000 children and young people in care across England. Each year around 7,500 young people aged 16 or over leave care. For many this is a worrying transition and consequently care leavers are a particularly vulnerable group of young people and consequently 17% of the young people that Centrepoint works with have experienced being in care at some point in their lives.

The young people worked alongside the Spanner Theatre Company to generate a script for the live theatre event. The performance, which included poetry, comedy, and stage-fighting, was a no holds barred presentation with powerful scenes about the risks and dangers associated with homelessness and family breakdown.

Danni Cottingham, one young person involved in the youth educator programme said:

“The day was brilliant and was a positive experience for us all. Theatre is a really powerful way to bring young people together from similar backgrounds and get some of our stories across. It has brought our group closer together, developed our confidence and it’s a great way to express ourselves.”

“After the performance I was approached by Redditch NEW college representatives and asked if I was a part of the Spanner Theatre Company. They thought I had studied theatre!”

Through the “We Care” project funded by the Camelot Foundation the young people have been developing a new Centrepoint website designed for the use of young people; undertaken pod casting skills training; raised £1,000 from the Big Boost Fund to take care experienced children to an activity centre to enjoy quad biking, rock climbing and laser tag. These achievements were showcased at the event and certificates presented to accredit the young people for their training.

Jonathan Cochrane, Theatre and Arts Development Manager at

Redditch Borough Council said:

“Redditch Borough Council was proud to get involved in the project. Only through partnership working, sharing skills and experience can we effect real change. It is particularly important to work in partnership with young people and theatre is an effective way to make that partnership work.”