Forum Theatre and Stigma in the UK & Uganda: Is it mad if it works?

I have recently returned from a trip to Butabika Hospital for the “mentally ill”, not far from Kampala in Uganda. The trip was part of a project set up by Sharing Stories – in layman’s terms, a small group of UK & Ugandan psychologists and mental health service users dedicated to improving well-being for people experiencing and working with mental health issues. The idea is that both countries are on an equal footing, neither is more important or knowledgeable than the other, but both have lots to give and learn.

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Applied Theatre – measuring what works and what matters (and really believing it)

I know, I feel and I see that what Odd Arts does – works. It changes people’s way of thinking and seeing the world; it opens up new opportunities through self-belief and realisation of personal ability; it empowers people to find ways to challenge the things or people that harm us. Proving this is another matter.  Of course, we should have to prove we make a difference. There is ever growing scepticism of charity morals and we are at a time of national austerity – proving our impact is necessary and right.

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Manchester & Boston Radical Exchange: Shared approaches to tackling radicalisation & extremism

Radicalisation is a complex, vast and contentious issue. Society has generally been sceptical of the Home Office PREVENT strategy, and often people avoid the subject matter out of fear of offending or worsening a situation, and sometimes because they simply don’t know what it means … and this is understandable! In a nutshell, the approach we take to tackling radicalisation is:

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My experience with Odd Arts

I took part in Project8, This was held at a Local Youth club Powerhouse in Moss Side. Odd Arts collaborated with Rathbone to do this workshop around Mental Heath and to help us learn about Leadership skills which the goal was to help work on presentation skills, team work, coping with problems and to help with confidence and creativity of the young people.

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Odd Arts

Odd Arts Community Interest Company was founded in 2004 and is committed to working creatively with vulnerable and excluded groups for positive and realistic results. The company manages and facilitates creative, issue- based workshops within the Criminal Justice System, community and education sector. These workshops consist of combining art forms including drama, film, photography and creativity.

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