Tewkesbury theatre raises £30k for children's SEN programme

The Roses Theatre offers classes to children with special educational needs

A theatre has raised £30,000 to expand its special educational needs (SEN) creative programme for children.

The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury currently offers classes involving theatre, music and other creative activities to neurodiverse children aged between 10 and 16-years-old.

Now, the team will be able to deliver the originally monthly sessions on a weekly basis.

Jessica Brewster, the theatre director, said she is "thrilled" with the result.

The venue had been chosen by The Big Give's Arts for Impact fundraising initiative, who promised to match every pound raised up to £10,000 between 19-27 March.

The theatre's two-year creative programme, Infinite Creatives, has been delivered to 15 participants since September 2022.

It is designed to help neuro-diverse children develop their confidence, important life skills and improve their mental wellbeing.

Ms Brewster said the project is "vital" for the children involved.

'Morale boost'

"We're so thrilled that our community got behind it.

"It just shows how the Roses is making a real impact at the moment," she added.

"We're on a big roll, we're doing so well, and that is entirely to do with our audiences and our supporters behind us."

Following the successful fundraising week, the theatre will start offering the classes on a weekly basis from September, with specialist facilitators and additional resources.

Ms Brewster said: "It's such a morale boost.

"Our whole youth department is on fire at the moment... We've got so many people involved, we've got so many parents involved, and this really completes it in a way."