Children’s mental health boost with lottery grant

Theatre workshops are being funded by a council grant to help improve children's mental health in schools.

The sessions are being run by Big Bubble Theatre Company after they secured funding from Kettering Town Council.

The council had a pot of cash raised from the Kettering Community Lottery to award to projects which supported health and wellbeing in the town.

The grant of £1,000 will go towards funding eight workshops in local primary schools during Children's Mental Health Week, running from Monday 5 February.

The Mindful Warriors workshops will teach mindfulness techniques and wellbeing using drama, movement and music.

Laura Clark, from Big Bubble Theatre Company, said: "We are passionate about using drama to encourage young people to engage in important subjects and also to entertain and inspire. We are able to offer affordable theatre to children who won't normally have the chance to see live performances.

"Our sessions are fun and informative and will give young people the tools to help them to manage their mental health."

Cllr Mark Rowley, chair of Kettering Town Council's Finance and Governance Committee, said: "We were impressed with Big Bubble Theatre Company's bid for lottery money. These workshops will make a real difference to youngsters in the town and will be run in schools which don't usually have the funds to do these sorts of activities."

A follow up resource will also be given to the schools to encourage teachers and students to continue the methods and techniques used in the workshop.

As well as the cash for the workshops, councillors agreed to give £1,000 to Kettering Youth Theatre Group to fund pantomime rehearsals and facilities costs and £500 to Kettering Foodbank to assist with operating costs.