Your Stories

Leaps and Bounds

The year long intensive personal development and arts programme has been led by Dudley charity Leaps & Bounds - who were also behind the highly successful ‘ Ballet Hoo! televised by Channel 4 in 2006 also featuring young people from the West Midlands.

Chasing Fate rehearsals

The cast of young people were referred to the project by a number of local agencies who specialise in tackling issues such as: homelessness, family breakdowns, physical and mental health, youth offending, teen pregnancies, alcohol and drug dependency, and exclusion from school.

Extraordinary change

Leaps & Bounds claim their unique formula generates extraordinary change in the lives of young people, through personal development, specialised coaching and their involvement in arts and sport activities.

Rehearsals

Michelle Bould of Leaps & Bounds says: “The important thing is that we didn’t go looking for talent – we went looking for young people who wanted to do some work on themselves, but what we discovered is that there is a huge wealth of talent out there – young people with fantastic ability. What we’ve done is given them an opportunity to work on that ability and bring it out.”

Broadening horizons

Young people aged 14-18 from across the Black Country were carefully selected for Chasing Fate. No previous arts experience was required, and for many of them this is the first time they have been involved in the arts. Aswell as the opportunities to work with professionals in the arts the whole experience has broadened their horizons and given them renewed aspirations.

Josh found it challenging

Joshua from Stourbridge found out about the opportunity through his college lecturer - he had never done any dance, singing or acting before. He found the programme challenging but he is pleased he stuck with it.

“When I first started the programme I didn’t want to do any of it. On the four day intensive workshops at the start I said no to everything because I felt stupid doing the dancing and singing - I wasn’t good at it. I’ve come a long way since then and I’ve stuck to it.

“For me everything on the project has been quite challenging because of the different obstacles I faced and the goals I had to set. I never knew I could dance and I’ve been told I’m really good.

“I kept going because my family and friends have been really supportive and kept giving me a boost saying do your best and stick to it. I’m proud of myself with what I’ve achieved”

Natalie has gone back to college

Life goals

The young people had to set life goals for themselves at the start of the project. For many this included improving relationships with family members or returning to education. Ongoing one-to-one pastoral support from volunteer life coaches and a personalised development programme helped them work towards achieving their goals.

Natalie from Sandwell had been expelled from several college courses. After being involved with the project for a year she has decided to give college another try and has just started a media course at Walsall college.

“I heard about the project through the hostel I was living at. I’ve met loads of new people and the experience has made me more organised. Before Leaps & Bounds I wasn’t going to college - I'm now doing a media course at Walsall College and I would like to become a film director.

Emma has gone back to education

“I’ve calm down a lot and I’m more confident now. The personal development workshops have really helped me”

Emma from Dudley dropped out of school without any GCSEs but with the support of Leaps & Bounds she decided to return to her education.

“It’s been amazing we’ve had the best opportunities working with the professionals. I wasn’t really into acting before this but I've had singing lessons at school.

“We had to write life goals and got help and support from the life coaches to achieve them. They meet up with you to talk about them; it’s really nice to have that support.

“One of my goals was to get back into education – I left school when I was in year 10. My goal was to get into college but I didn’t have any GCSEs. With all the support I’ve been able to finish my GCSEs and get onto a college course.”

Rehearsals

Discovering themselves

Leah Wilkes is the Walsall area co-ordinator for Leaps and Bounds and manages the pastoral care for the young people on the project in the local area, supporting them with any issues they may have in their personal lives, at school or at home.

Singing rehearsals

“What’s been amazing is to watch the young people discover themselves and realise what they can actually achieve.

“Individually all the young people have developed and learnt so much about themselves, they are all making new choices and have now got aspirations about what they want to do with their lives.”

Life choices

The theme of the production Chasing Fate is all about the choices we make in life and what path we choose to follow.

The themes covered by the musical mirror some of the real-life situations that some of the young cast have experienced in their lives. Domestic violence, drugs, gang violence, split families and gun crime are just some of the issues explored in the production.

Ayanda will never forget the experience

Ayanda from Walsall says she has now started to make better choices in her own life.

“I’ve grown and gained a lot from the project and I’ve learnt a lot about myself. When I started the programme I had the wrong choice of friends and people around me and I wasn’t in the right environment - I used to let people around me influence me. But now I feel more confident to stand up for myself.

“I stuck to it and achieved something at the end - I’m never going to forget it.”

Chasing Fate rehearsals

Chasing fate at the Hippodrome

The ‘Chasing Fate’ musical will take place at Birmingham Hippodrome on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 October 2008.

The production is a West End style musical supported by professionals from the world of musicals and television drama including Artistic Director Christopher Key (Avenue Q, Les Miserables), set designer Phil Eddolls, writer James Hall (Eastenders, The Bill) and vocal coach Wayne Ellington (BBC1 ‘Choir Last Standing’) as well as former Pop Idol musical director Douglas Whyte.

For more information on times and ticket prices call the Hippodrome box office or visit the website: