THE ART OF ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING FROM CARDBOARD CITIZENS
WHY USE THEATRE?
Tried and tested Cardboard Citizens’ The Art of Engagement training distills the best theatre-based techniques and exercises to help social sector staff engage in a more meaningful way with their clients. It is a tried and tested methodology that we have been using to engage our homeless participants and other hard-to-reach groups for over twenty years. Gets results quickly Theatre combined with storytelling can be an incredibly effective tool for building teamwork and trust quickly. Participants work towards shared goals under tight time constraints, and along the way self-confidence, presentation skills, motivation and self-awareness improve organically. Groups are re-energised and inspired through new patterns of working.
www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk
Creates dialogue Cardboard Citizens is particularly skilled at using theatre as a tool for creating participative dialogue, a kind of theatrical debate where a wide range of relevant issues can be explored interactively in a safe space. Experiences and ideas are rehearsed and shared, generating both empathy and a sense of personal and collective empowerment. No previous acting or theatre experience is necessary to participate or benefit from the process. Widely applicable If you are looking for creative ways of working within your organisation, theatre can often be an approach which unlocks ideas and dismantles barriers, especially with socially excluded groups of all ages and nationalities.
WHY ARE WE EXPERTS?
Cardboard Citizens is an awardwinning charity that changes the lives of homeless people through theatre. Over the years we have worked to engage and empower a wide range of marginalised groups: • Homeless people • hard-to-reach young people • refugees • asylum seekers • people with disabilities and mental health needs • people battling addiction • those with experience of the criminal justice system • members of the traveller community • gangs • sex workers • ESOL learners
We are also the UK’s leading practitioners of Forum Theatre which enables groups to create and develop plays exploring issues of common concern. But it doesn’t stop there. The plays are used to establish a dialogue between those performing and their audiences, who become ‘spect-actors’. This dialogue becomes a way to spark debate, consider options and look for solutions and proposals for change. Think of our methods as a democratic learning tool where ‘spect-actors’ actively participate in the issues that concern them. From bespoke 1-day workshops, to structured courses and masterclasses, we can bring our expertise to help you better engage with communities, empowering them to voice their opinions and address their issues. Our world-class facilitators have decades of experience working with marginalized groups around the world - delivering workshops, training and directing theatre. Our engagement packages can be tailored to meet your organizational needs.
www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk
“ANOTHER FANTASTIC DAY OF LEARNING, CREATIVITY, INTERPRETATION AND LAUGHTER. WHAT A WONDERFUL RECIPE.” NHS SOUTHAMPTON
FOR PROVIDERS ENGAGING MARGINALISED PEOPLE THROUGH ‘PLAY’ — 1 DAY
A day of training where Cardboard Citizens’ team will share their methods for engaging with hardto-reach groups through practical case studies and hands-on theatrical games & exercises. An inspiring session for frontline staff and facilitators with ready techniques you can start using immediately. At the end of this session staff will have: • Confidence in tackling issues with their groups in a more creative way • Experienced the value of ‘play’ • A toolkit of games and exercises to engage and stimulate debate with your group • Learnt how to structure a workshop • Learnt top tips for managing challenging behaviour • Learnt creative ways of gathering feedback • Reflected on their own practice and impact
www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk
“WE’VE MADE 6 MONTHS OF PROGRESS IN 5 DAYS.” THE BROMLEY BY BOW CENTRE
FOR SERVICE USERS COMMUNITY CONSULTATION — 1 DAY
A workshop where participants are able to explore an issue relevant to their community whilst building up their confidence and communication skills through theatrical practice. The workshops are practical and fun, with an emphasis on learning through play, and are also suitable for groups who do not have English as their first language. At the end of this session service users will have: • Challenged their limitations • Identified issues of concern • Shared strategies and experience of overcoming those issues • Felt empowered to take responsibility • Debated solutions and proposals for progress
www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk
“POWERFUL, EMOTIONAL, REALISTIC... PASSIONATE AUDIENCES ENGAGED TO CHANGE OUTCOMES. A GREAT TOOL TO USE FOR STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS.” AUDIENCE MEMBER CITIZENS’ FORUM SHARING UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
FOR SERVICE USERS & PROVIDERS CITIZENS FORUM — 3-5 DAYS
Do you want to make your service users or staff more involved in your organisation? Citizens Forum is a great way of creating dialogue and bringing stakeholder consultation to life. We will work with your group to create a piece of participative Forum Theatre based on themes and issues of importance to them and your organisation. The play can then be performed to an audience of peers and community stakeholders, who will be able to participate as ‘spectactors’ and engage in a theatrical debate with the performers. We can even take that further and use the proposals from the audience as suggestions for creating policy in a process called Legislative Theatre.
www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk
At the end of this session participants will have: • Experienced all of the benefits of Community Consultation • Created and performed a piece of Forum Theatre • Learnt how to use Forum Theatre to problem-solve and encourage dialogue within their communities Further benefits after the audience’s’ involvement include: • Sharing of findings from the consultation or enquiry • Inviting further debate and contribution • Inviting proposals for progress • Increasing awareness
“AFTER 8 YEARS OF DELIVERING HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING, I HAVE TO SAY THIS NEW APPROACH WAS INSPIRING AND REFRESHING!” BRITISH INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
SOME ORGANISATIONS WE HAVE RECENTLY WORKED WITH
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust Southampton NHS Corby Council University of Warwick University of Aberystwyth Oaklands College Kids Company The British Institute of Human Rights Friends of the Earth St. Mungo’s Look Ahead Housing Creative Partnerships Hijinx Theatre The Roundhouse Clean Break and more… For more information and an informal chat about your needs contact: Tony McBride Director of Projects 020 7247 7747 tony@cardboardcitizens.org.uk www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk
www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk