GCSE GROUP EXCEL IN PERFORMING GIZMO

On Saturday 20th February the FRCA GCSE drama group performed their version of Alan Ayckbourne’s GIZMO in what was a simply outstanding show.

It had taken around 9 months to put the show together, however all the hard work and dedication paid off as brilliant performances from all the cast demonstrated how good this group now are. As part of the preparation for doing Gizmo, the group had attended the Youth Connections Event at the National Theatre, London in July 2009, and on Saturdays showing it won’t be too long before they are able to participate in similar events. They were that good!

Congratulations must go to Sammy, Rose, Matt, Garry, Lisa, Lewis, Cindy and of course Becky who has decided to finish her time with FRCA and move on to new projects. We wish her well!

And that was 2009!

Well as we near the end of the year it just seems right to have a look at what was achieved in 2009 by the Charity all the Young People who work with FRCA.

In early February we staged our version of the Lion King at NAPA's Stage 2 Theatre, followed Freedom Road's hugely successful trip to Australia. In March FRCA announced that it would be delivering a GCSE qualification in Drama, and in May, Becky and Jess visited several local primary schools and spoke to pupils about their involvement in FRCA and how it has helped them.

In June, Freedom Road performed at the North Yorkshire Matters Conference in Selby and in early July our GCSE Drama Group travelled down to London to watch other youth groups from around the country perform at the Youth Connections event held at the National Theatre.

July continued to be a very busy month as on the 8th Becka and Chiq spoke in the House of Lords, before Freedom Road travelled to Birmingham to perform at the Custard Factory on 30th as part of the Youth Music event.

After spending August preparing new projects with our Voltage Volunteers, Matt, Matt, Becky and Garry, September saw our 2nd Summer School engage with around 40 young people who performed their work on the Friday at the Albermarle Music Centre. Headlining this event was British Beatbox Champion MC Zany and was funded by YOF and Music 4 U.

In October we held our annual Stars in Your Eyes fundraiser which raised around £1,000 and which was won by Mollie Brown, before Freedom Road began a short tour in October and November, which saw them perform at the Princes Trust regional awards ceremony in Leeds and later at the Love Music Hate Racism event held at Hull City Hall amongst others.

November was phase 2 of the Music 4 U project when an event was organied at the Lamp and at which lots of new talent was on show. Bands from across the City performed and we were all pleasantly suprised by a certain Sammy Watson's version of "The Climb".

And then to close the year, in December the Wednesday and Thursday drama groups' Christmas Show helped us finish on a high with some outstanding performances from Jack Thompson, Mark Thompson, Becka Lindley, Emily Halsey and the whole of the Wednesday group.

Wow!! So it's been rather hectic and i must take this opportunity to thanks all involved who have helped us develop the charity into one that is now providing consistent, quality opportunities for lots of young people.

Ian

Drawing a line under the Australia Project

We held a presentation last Friday (27th March) for everyone associated with the Australia Project. Kids, parents, carers, friends, family, collegues...everyone was there. It was a great night. Each of the young people received a certificate, a CD of photos from the trip, a DVD of the highlights, and a mounted selection of photographs in a presentation folder, as a keepsake. We also got mounted photos celebrating the wonderful achievements of the group to give to each of the adults who had helped make the trip happen. Penny Crawford, Assistant Head of Service for Children and Young People in Hull made it down and said it had been a fantastic opportunity the council could not turn down and she was incredibly proud of everyone involved!

After buffet and presentations, we also played the two DVD's, which will be up on the website soon. One was a short 'highlights' film of what we did whilst out in Australia, and the other was a rap written by Matty giving a further insight into theevents. Really funny. Everyone had a really good night.

Atthe end it was all quite sad as the project we had been working on for the best part of a year was finally over and it was now time to start ideas flowing for the next big thing for Freedom Road. Rest assured, everyone is still very much on a high and with the amazing support that the council and young people have given us, this won't be the last time Freedom Road Creative Arts go international.

ITS NOT THE THE END...MORE THE START OF NEW BEGINNINGS

As our plane finally touched down at Heathrow early on Friday morning, it signalled the end of the trip, but then opened yet another door in the amazing journey of Freedom Road, RAPP and the young people involved. They have gained so much more than a Aussie stamp in their passports and will benefit from this experience in so many ways in the future.

Its never over until that big lady sings and Freedom Road sang like seasoned performers that warmed the cockles of your heart and made you proud to be from Hull and UK...we hit the Aussies for six in their own back yard and it not very often we can say that is it ?! The young peoples behaviour throughout this trip has been in a word outstanding and they conducted themselves in a way that earned them respect and developed lasting friendships with their Australian peers.

Lets not forget, we spent over 40 hours travelling by air, and have travelled on nearly every mode of transport other than a Kangaroo!! And the young people just got on with it and enjoyed the experience to the full with a smile on their faces.Looking back we have had more laughs than the annual meeting of the tickling stick society!!!

Memories have been made that will last a life time...what an opportunity these young people have had! That they now build on with confidence to face the challenges that lie in the years ahead.

No ..its definately not the end...this amazing experience has just planted more magic seeds for the rainbows of the future to start to grow and for new dreams to be chased and realised.

Congratulations to all involved for making this trip happen and to all the young people and staff who took part...lets keep believing and keep on LIVING THE DREAM!!

Craig (have you put your suncream on?) Clark

DreamWorld and beyond!!!

So that was that. The last full day in Brisbane saw us take a trip to DreamWorld by train with some of our CREATE hosts to enjoy a day of rollercoasters and rides. First off was the CLAW which most of us went on, however Chiq and Caine found their way to the Flowrider which was a kind of wave machine which you had to surf upon. Both Chiq and Caine soon got the hang of it and looked pretty cool and so not to be outdone Jess decided to have a go too, and to everyones suprise managed to hang on and show the Aussies how it's done!!

Next Iain and Craig follwed me onto the rally car simulaters and after only 30 seconds i stopped and got out. It made me feel really ill. However Craig and Iain with pride at stake remained for the duration of the race and suffered for the rest of the day. Craig looked like a face double for John Major!!(grey and pasty).

Next stop was the Tower of Terror which was conquered firstly by Becky and Lisa and later by Sabrina, Hannah, Katie me and Jess. It was a kind of car which was shot at great speed up a Tower, stopped then returned down backwards. I know people reading this may think WOW that's not scary but for someone my age it was pretty worrying.

To round the day off Matt went on the TT Bikes and then it was back to the Mantra on Queens to get ready for our final night out at the Pig and Whistle for a fantastic meal. We met up with Jacqui for the last time on this visit, and said goodbye but with plans for future work together.

So that's it really.Tomorrow we set off for home at the end of what can only be described as a life changing experience for us all. Australia will never be that faraway place that we only ever dreamt of visiting, in fact it is now a place that most of us plan to return to in the near future and meet up with our friends from CREATE.

Thankyou to everyone who has supported this trip, to Penny, Mike, Christine and Rob. To all the RAPP staff who have put up with my consistent talking before we set off and I apologise in advance for what will be at least a year of story telling everyone will have to put up with on our return!! To all the parents and carers and most of all to the fantastic young people that we took away. You have all been absolutely amazing and a credit to yourselves and the City of Hull and we are all very proud of you!!

Ian

Sandboarding at Moreton Island

So it was off on another ferry across to Moreton Island today to sample some of the Gold Coasts finest beaches and have a go at Sand Boarding. After an hours boat journey we headed straight for the Desert area where we were given a piece of hardboard measuring 120cm x 30cm x 6mm , (you see working in that Woodyard for all those years has paid off!), which was duly waxed. We were then in turn sent hurtling down a sand bank at what felt like a breathtaking speed reaching the bottom to claps and cheers. Most of us had a good style however others, not to mention names, didn't get the "Lift your elbows up while going down" bit, and ended up with a mouthful of sand.

We then headed for the Blue Lagoon and spend an hour cooling off before going to have a picnic on the beach and a dip in clear blue sea. The trip ended with a chilled ferry crossing back and some of us went for a chinese meal tonight while others sampled the local McDonald"s.

So it's off the Dream World tomorrow with our CREATE hosts before packing ready to come home on Thursday.

Another Brisbane Boiler

Yesterday at the City's Street Beach we had had such a good time that we headed there again to enjoy another day. Imagine Hull City Centre and a beach with the sea at the end of Whitefriargate. It's the same thing but with 30 degree temperatures and skyscrapers all around us .......... it is unbelieveable. The young people were in and out of the water, sunbathing and enjoying milk shakes, ice cold coke and friendly conversations with people recognising our unique Hull accents!

Then it was off to TooWong on the train to meet up with some of the CREATE staff for an evening meal before returning back to the hotel to get an early night before our trip tomorrow to the Gold Coast and Moreton Island.We are hoping to see some dolphins and also go sand surfing. So check out the blog tomorow for an update. 2 days to go and we will be heading home. Going too fast but the memories will last forever!!!! But before this some of us will be up even earlier to watch the Tigers turn over Spurs at the KC.

The top boss from CREATE, Jacqui is already talking to us about maintaining links and possibly visiting the UK later this year which is fantastic and shows again the success of this trip.