Timber & Assistance Required for Drama Space

Description

Upmo is a charity and registered care provider that provides support and opportunity for adults with learning disabilities and autism throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians, helping them to lead full and happy lives. Our vision is an inclusive world in which everyone receives the respect, support and opportunities they need to enjoy life, develop their creative potential, and play an equal, inclusive and rewarding role in their communities.  

Learn more about Upmo here by watching Jason's Journey. 

We currently support over 160 young people and adults with additional support needs, helping them develop their potential with a diverse range of creative and educational workshops. Our extensive programme of workshops has been developed in collaboration with our students and cover a wide range of subjects within the following key areas: - Creative Arts (including Music, Arts & Crafts, Drama, Multimedia, VR & 3D Printing); Health & Wellbeing (including Health, wellbeing and life skills, Gardening, Upmo Breaks and Street Soccer) and Employability (including Work experience & Literacy and numeracy). 

 

Drama is one of our most popular subjects and we want to make sure that our students have a suitable space and resources to get the most out of these workshops. Drama workshops can be used to explore social situations, and develop communication and self-confidence. Students are helped to create their own warm-ups, scenes and performances. Scenes are then developed to a stage where they can be performed in front of an audience at one of our regular events. It’s a safe, welcoming place for students to join at their own pace, and suggest new scenes and stories.

 

Requirements

We are currently looking to refurbish our Drama Workshop space, located at our St Margaret's House site in Edinburgh. This includes;

• installing a purpose built stage,
• installing stage lighting
• building or installing storage for our props and costumes. 

 

 

The stage we currently use is too small and poses both accessibility and safety issues for students with mobility issues. We want to build a custom stage, the full width of the room and with improved wheelchair access. We are looking for a donation of timber and other materials to complete this project.

 

We would also like to install or build storage cupboards for props and rails for costumes, as the current storage is inadequate, making the space messy and disorganised for our staff and students, despite their best efforts to keep it organised.