Speech Bubbles has two New Partners!!
We are delighted to announce that Nottingham Playhouse and Herts Inclusive Theatre are starting as Speech Bubbles partners in September 2023!
During our time setting up the partnerships with HIT and Nottingham Playhouse we talked about what had drawn them to join the Speech Bubbles Partner Network.
“Herts Inclusive Theatre has followed the development of the speech bubbles programme over a number of years and seen the impact it has on the participants involved. Our work is all about inclusion, communication, building confidence, and well-being, and we felt that Speech Bubbles fitted with this in every way. We are delighted to have been chosen as a partner and to be able to take Speech Bubbles out into Hertfordshire.”
Caroline Stevens, Herts Inclusive Theatre
We are so pleased to be working with partners with such a committed focus on inclusion, supporting communication and building confidence. Bringing together partners with strong ideas and experience to work together on Speech Bubbles can only build all our practice.
“We are proud to be partnering with Speech Bubbles to deliver their hugely successful intervention programmes for children with additional communication needs. Nurturing creativity, confidence and wellbeing through interactive storytelling has always been at the heart of our provision for young children, and this well-researched and evidenced programme for primary schools will compliment our ever growing schools offer.”
Sarah West Valstar, Nottingham Playhouse
We are so delighted to be reaching into more areas of the UK and to building new partnerships with such great organisations. Developing further the work we already have been creating with our partners who we have been growing with over many years. This academic year we started working with two new partners – Mercury Theatre, Colchester and Bounce Theatre in Wandsworth. In anticipation of announcing our new partners for 2023 we asked them for a little feedback.
“Our first year being a Speech Bubbles partner has been extremely positive. Their processes are clear, well thought out and Adam and Lizzie are a joy to work with. The programme itself has been extremely effective for the young people and TAs involved, and the training for our practitioners has been incredibly helpful and engaging. The monitoring and evaluation of our work is hugely important for us and the systems Speech Bubbles have in place for this are detailed yet easy to use. Overall, we have found our experience as a Speech Bubbles partner to be hugely beneficial for us and our educational work.”
Forest Morgan, Mercury Theatre, Colchester
We pride ourselves on working to continually evaluate our work and develop what we offer and the systems we use. It is great to be working with such wonderful people and organisations.
“Midway through a recent Bubbles session, I caught one six year old telling her partner, 'Speech Bubbles is a place to feel happy.' when she thought her partner was too sad to join in a game. Minutes later they were diving into the ocean together & sunbathing in Australia. A few months ago I might not have thought too much about that exchange. Since joining Speech Bubbles, I see it differently & appreciate the layers of communication going into that moment - to observe someone else, read body language, listen and take time to think about what to say to make it better.
Speech Bubbles has already become an integral part of our company chat as we constantly now chat about the potential of the arts to make a difference to the many children facing communication challenges. We have had a warm welcome into a network of people all passionate about ensuring everyone's (ours included) authentic voice is heard. I couldn't be happier to be a part of it.”
Louise Pendry, Bounce Theatre
At Speech Bubbles we aim to support the development of children’s communication and confidence and revel in the moments of joy this can bring!
Lastly a word from our CEO:
“I am thrilled that Herts Inclusive Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse will be joining the Speech Bubbles partner network ready to launch in their local schools from September 2023. They are joining a network of wonderful creative organisations committed to making a significant difference for the children in their regions. Thank you to Paul Hamlyn Foundation for supporting this further expansion at a time when more children than ever would benefit from creative support with communication.”
Adam Power Annand, Speech Bubbles
You can find out more about these organisation here:
Herts Inclusive Theatre – Award winning arts charity, a stage for everyone (hit-theatre.org.uk)
Young People - Nottingham Playhouse
Mercury Theatre Colchester | Unique, Insightful and Incisive Theatre