BLAST Youth Theatre in Southend and Basildon has been awarded a grant of £45,000 over three years by BBC Children in Need. This grant will fund free weekly drama sessions and community performances, helping to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people facing disadvantage in Southend and Basildon.
BLAST Youth Theatre supports young people to overcome barriers to learning and integration, using creativity to build confidence, resilience and positive self-esteem. Thanks to this new funding, BLAST will continue running free weekly sessions from September 2025 through to July 2028, with activities focused on drama & performance. Sessions will be tailored to participants’ needs, supporting communication and language development, as well as mental health and wellbeing.
Through participation in BLAST Youth Theatre, young people will:
Improve communication and spoken language skills
Learn new creative and transferable life skills
Increase levels of confidence, self-esteem and positive self-image
Raise aspirations and develop a sense of progression, ownership and belonging
Support their mental health and wellbeing, reducing social isolation and loneliness
Increase likelihood to engage with arts and community activities
The project is delivered in partnership with Welcome to the UK, Signpost (Basildon) and Towngate Theatre, Basildon.
Alison Garner, Creative Director at Elevator Arts, said:
“We could not reach out to the young people in Southend and Basildon without the support of BBC Children in Need. This grant will change the lives of so many young people, giving them a safe, creative space to build confidence, learn new skills and feel a real sense of belonging.”
A member of BLAST Youth Theatre added:
“Before I joined BLAST, I was really shy and didn’t like talking in front of people. Now I’ve made loads of new friends, and I feel much more confident. It’s helped me believe in myself and know that my voice matters.”
