Other Services

This is a brand new project, funded by the Big Lottery that aims to open up education and development for our service users.

 

‘Agor Drysau’ will aim to provide stimulating learning experiences and opportunities which will enhance confidence and develop positive skills and talents.

 

These opportunities will assist people in moving towards a more confident and independent future.

 

Young people involved with GISDA are supported to identify the skills they need to develop and go on to live independently. ‘Agor Drysau’ aims to offer accreditation for most of the skills acquired.

 

From learning to cook healthy food, managing finances, to sexual health, from theatre work to drumming and graffiti. ‘Agor Drysau’ will have a range of workshops, courses and opportunities designed to teach young people how to stand on their own two feet.

 

‘Agor Drysau’ will also focus on developing service users’ employability, developing the skills necessary through volunteering opportunities and social enterprise work.

 

‘Agor Drysau’ is about finding alternative ways of learning that is stimulating, challenging and fun.

 

The Open Doors Project includes a mediation service.

 

 

Education & Development

Part of the new ‘Agor Drysau’ project focuses on education and development.

 

We seek to accredit (through Agored Cymru/OCN) most of the activities and support that we offer.

 

This means that service users will gain valuable qualifications whilst receiving support through GISDA.

 

As this is a new project we will keep you updated.

 

 

Youth Exchange & Performances

In 2006 a group of young people from GISDA took part in a Theatre Forum workshop. By now, the theatre has developed into an exciting enterprise where GISDA’s young people get the opportunity to educate others about the issues that face the homeless. Since then GISDA’s Theatre Forum performances have been presented to audiences from local communities as well as nationally and internationally.

 

But what is Theatre Forum?

In the 70’s a director from Brasil, Augusto Boal, founded the Theatre Forum method. An international theatre with educational techniques, for people to take an active part in our communities in order to tackle oppression. It has been used world-wide to discover answers to problems, influence legislation and to stimulate people to strengthen societies for the better.

 

The Theatre Forum method is used by GISDA’s youth to convey on the stage their personal experiences of homelessness. It’s important to note that the young people develop the theatre’s content, characters, story and script.

 

GISDA’s Theatre Forum aim is to campaign for and to stimulate a “social change” by encouraging people from the audience to work with the characters on the stage to try and offer different methods, ideas and possibilities to overcome and prevent homelessness.

 

There is no two ways about it, that taking part in a performance has a positive effect on the development of the individual, such as:

• Improve self-confidence and self-awareness
• Voice opinions confidently and to challenge other’s views confidently
• Understand body language by responding to different emotions – bodily expression
• Strengthen co-ordinated movements and sensitivity of the senses
• Work both individually and as part of a team
• Show oppression through the medium of acting and drama

Theatre Forum is recognised by the United Nations through UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a positive method that encourages “Social Change”

Osian Elis, Theatre Forum Facilitator

 

“Theatre Forum is a mode of information: it should, and can also be, a method of transforming society. Theatre Forum can help us to build our future, instead of waiting for it.”

Augusto Boal – Founder of Theatr Fforwm

 

GISDA’s Theatre Forum performances

As noted below the young people have performed for many organisations, meetings, conferences and some performances in other countries.

 

The audiences have been an extensive mix of various people e.g schoolchildren, Assembly Ministers, Members of Parliament, Councillors, Wales Children’s Commissioners, teachers, health workers and many more.

 

September	2006	GISDA’s 21st conference, Caernarfon
October	2006	Shelter’s conference, Cardiff
April	2007	Meirion Dwyfor College, Pwllheli
April	2007	Ysgol Uwchradd Botwnnog, Botwnnog
April	2007	Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Caernarfon
May	2007	Wales National Conference, Cardiff
May	2007	Grassroots Centre, Cardiff
September	2007	GISDA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), Caernarfon
December	2007	Llamau conference, Cardiff
March	2008	Youth Exchange, Portugal
September	2008	GISDA AGM Caernarfon
October	2008	Wales National Conference, Cardiff
October	2009	Mantell Gwynedd’s Funders Fair, Llanberis
November	2009	‘Wythnos Ni Conference- Gwynedd’, Bangor
November	2009	Leaving Home Conference, Shelter Cymru, Cardiff
December	2009	Gwynedd Children and Young Peoples Partnership Network, Caernarfon
April	2010	Gwynedd Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, Bangor
March	2010	Ysgol Uwchradd Moelwyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog
March	2010	Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, Caernarfon
June	2010	Children and Young People’s Partnership together with Heads of    department of Gwynedd Council
July	2010	Theatre Forum Sin Telón Festival, Barcelona, Catalonia
October	2010	Safeguarding Children Co-ordinators, Secondary schools, Porthmadog
November	2010	Wythnos Ni Gwynedd, Glynllifon

 

• Theatre Forum DVD - Click Here
• Theatre Forum Quotes - Click Here
• Theatre Forum Comments - Click Here

Youth Exchanges

Theatre Forum’s work has opened doors for GISDA’s young people with invites to attend youth exchanges throughout Europe. In addition, GISDA was responsible for arranging their own exchange in 2009.

 

During the exchanges there is an opportunity for the young people to take part in arts workshops, such as theatre, dance, music and drama. The purpose of the exchanges are to use the arts to improve the quality of the young people’s lives and to broaden their horizons.

 

October	2006	Denmark Youth Exchange
March	2007	Portugal Youth Exchange - Porto
October	2008	Hungary Youth Exchange - Budapest
January	2009	Wales Youth Exchange - Bala
November	2009	Wales Youth Exchange - Conwy
July	2010	Barcelona Youth Exchange - Catalonia

 

• For stories from our young people Click Here
• Click Here to view photos of Barcelona 2010
• Youth Exchange - Click here (Welsh only)

 

 

Peer Mentoring

Peer mentoring is a great opportunity for service users to gain employment with GISDA. This enables them to broaden their experience and develop new skills.

Peer mentoring allows the successful person to mentor the young people in our projects.

The Peer mentor will have maintained a successful tenancy and have left the service for a period of between seven months to one year.

We hope this role can inspire other young people to develop themselves as our current mentor has been a recipient of our service, understands the problems that the service users face and can relate to them well.