Step Forward

Organisation: Stepping Out
Funding: £15,000

This project is building on the organisation's existing work, running creative workshops with mental health patients in community, day centre and hospital settings. NESTA's funding will support the project to work with people in secure or medium secure units and involve them in aspects of a major new theatre production. The production will be performed inside the unit and at mainstream community and theatre venues.

The project aims to help some of the most vulnerable mental health patients take a major step forward in their own healing and recovery by building self-esteem and self-confidence, encouraging interaction with others, and lessening the stigma of mental distress.

Those involved will also have the opportunity to train in aspects of theatre or live performance including creative writing, costume and set design or sound and lighting operation. Patients will also have the opportunity to gain employment with the theatre company on leaving the unit.