Stride Theatre received Creative Challenge 2020 funding to take their highly regarded and popular weekly theatre sessions online in order to reach families experiencing social isolation and in need of the wellbeing boost creative activities provides. Delivering nine virtual theatre sessions a week for six weeks the project engaged 20 young people from Wakefield district. Public online video sessions reached a further 75 participants.

The feedback from parents was incredibly positive, with many noting that taking part had a significant impact on the young person’s mood and anxiety levels:

“Stride has been a life saver during COVID me and my daughter hope the sessions keep going until everyone can get back to meeting up, I can’’t tell you how much we appreciate all the work that Stride put in.  Stride has been the only social thing that she has been able to do… every Thursday she’s like a different girl, massively more relaxed and happier.”

“It was awesome. He really looks forward to the sessions and often asking for them through the week. He has very little interaction with anyone outside of his household. Your sessions are like a breath of fresh air. I really appreciate the way you engage with him and encourage his play and imagination whilst keeping it fun. I know he very much appreciates this too. Thank you.”