Name(s): Jay Smith
Role(s): Volunteer Engagement Co-Ordinator
Location: Ammanford
Website: Mess Up The Mess
Mess Up The Mess
Can you tell us a little about your organisation, what inspired you to start, and its role within the local community?
Mess Up The Mess Theatre Company is a non-profit social enterprise which has been running free inclusive drama workshops in Ammanford and the Amman Valley since 2007. We work with the hardest to reach young people in our community, using theatre and the arts as powerful tools to support their wellbeing, build their confidence and engage and empower them to make their voices heard. Young people who come to Mess Up The Mess learn new skills and are inspired to go on to further study at college and university. Many have returned as adults to volunteer and work for Mess Up The Mess.
How has the UK SPF supported yourorganisation and what specific improvements or changes have you been able to make with the funding?
UK SPF funding supported Mess Up The Mess to:
- Train staff to deliver and assess Arts Award accredited qualifications
- Run a programme of youth volunteering support
- Deliver a programme of creative skills masterclasses for young people
Creative skills masterclasses were taught by industry professionals and included stage design, lighting, stage combat, song-writing, film-making and special effects make-up. Without UK SPF funding we would not have been able to run such an extensive programme of skills training alongside our core weekly workshops.
As a result of funding, Arts Award is now embedded across our provision, with young people able to achieve a recognised qualification for their learning and experience at Mess Up The Mess.
What impact has this project had on the local community so far and how have they responded to the services/improvements you've made?
Through the project, we delivered 16 masterclasses to 46 unique participants and supported 31 youth volunteers to contribute 1,945 hours of volunteering.
Seven staff were trained to deliver and assess Arts Award. 17 young people gained an Arts Award at Explore level and 23 gained a Bronze Award. In partnership with Menter Bro Dinefwr, we were able to reach an additional 26 young people who gained an Explore Award through the medium of Welsh.
