MILLENNIUM FORUM FINDS PERFECT PARTNER FOR HAPPY STAGE
By Catherine Ming | Nov 21, 2024 | News
The Millennium Forum today welcomed local business, Find Insurance NI, as new sponsor of the hugely successful ‘Happy Stage’ project. The project enables local young people to explore topics around mental health through the arts. The ‘Happy Stage – Your Forum, Your Stage’ project, with Principal Partner NWRC, invites all those aged between 12 and 18 with an interest in performance (acting, singing and dance) to participate in this year long project.
Participants will work alongside key health professionals and professional arts facilitators to produce a piece that will be showcased in various venues within the local community. Already, several key professionals have been confirmed to take part including Gary Rutherford (ARC Fitness), Brenda Shankey (Mindfulness Coach), Ciara Mc Callion (acting facilitation) and Claire Harkin (Dance Facilitator). Others will be announced shortly.
Speaking on the new partnership, Cara Mc Cartney, Development and Creative Engagement Manager at the Millennium Forum, said:
“This exciting project is a collaborative effort led by the Millennium Forum team and its Youth Forum. As it will be facilitated by arts professionals and health professionals it promises to be an exciting journey towards empowerment and wellbeing for young people aged 12 to 18. It adds to a host of free opportunities offered by the Millennium Forum for young people that encourage them to get involved in arts and performance. As a registered charity, we are delighted to be able to provide this opportunity in keeping with our commitment to make a positive difference to the lives of young people in our region. Our partnership with Find Insurance helps to enhance opportunities for the young people involved and will help build confidence and promote positive self-expression.”
Colin Mullan, Managing Director at Find Insurance NI, added:
“We are proud to partner with the Millennium Forum in this inspiring initiative, which provides young people with an opportunity to explore their creativity while addressing the vital topic of mental health. At Find Insurance, we are committed to supporting initiatives that make a meaningful impact in our community, and we look forward to seeing the incredible work that these young people will produce.”
Happy Stage – Your Forum Your Stage is a year long, all-inclusive youth drama project aimed at young people between the ages of 12 to 18. The project is designed to harness the creative potential of drama, dance, song and peer learning to explore and address the vital issue of young people’s mental health.
The heart of the project lies in the creation of a unique drama and music performance that will not only be a therapeutic outlet for the participants but also serve as a powerful tool for raising awareness and helping others facing similar challenges.
The Millennium Forum is inviting young people aged 12 to 18 to participate in this transformative journey. If you or someone you know is interested in exploring positive mental health through performance, gaining self-confidence, building new friendships and collaborating with arts and health professionals, then ‘Happy Stage – Your Forum Your Stage’ is the perfect project to get involved with. The Forum is particularly keen to welcome those young people who have never been involved in performing arts previously as this will be a unique opportunity for them to learn new skills from the outset.
This exceptional project is entirely FREE for participants and it will take place in convenient 8-week blocks. The first block began in early October and the second block will commence in January. Weekly workshops then run on Wednesdays (6pm-8pm) and Saturdays (12noon-3pm) each week at the Millennium Forum and various other locations to be announced. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
This project is kindly supported by North West Regional College, Ulster Garden Villages, A&B NI, Find Insurance NI, The Sandwich Co and Alchemy Technology Services.
For more information, or to secure your place, email Magsc@millenniumforum.co.uk or tel 02871272776 or register online here https://forms.gle/4dJB5kirxoJCqk9TA
ENDS