Birmingham Hippodrome Hosts Midlands Young Carers Workshops, Now thru Aug 2

This summer, Birmingham Hippodrome's ever-popular workshops for Young Carers in the West Midlands return to the theatre for the seventh year from today 29 July - Friday 2 August 2013.

The theatre has increased its capacity for the week from last year's 20 spaces in order to welcome 30 young people aged between 11-18 due to demand from returning faces and those wanting to experience the workshops for the first time.

The fun-filled week will be based around the themes, stories and songs from Disney's The Lion King, currently playing at Birmingham Hippodrome until 28 September. Workshops will see the young people working alongside professional practitioners in learning dance, song and acting skills ahead of a final performance at the end of the week in the theatre's Patrick Centre in front of friends, family and guests. This year, the team have also introduced additional activities to add to the fun including mask making and puppetry skills. Participants will also enjoy an exclusive backstage tour and watch a performance of Disney's The Lion King.

Young Carers are young people from all different backgrounds who look after someone in their family such as an ill parent or young siblings.

Birmingham Hippodrome's Education Officer, Rachel Sharpe will be working alongside the group and practitioners throughout the week, she commented,"Here at Birmingham Hippodrome we always look forward to seeing new and old faces at our Young Carers week. The experience is a rewarding opportunity for these young people to meet others with similar experiences, to put aside their responsibilities at home and enjoy themselves by creating a performance. It is remarkable to see the change in the participants from when they first join us on Monday to the performance on Friday when they stand up in front of their friends and family and give a brilliant final performance."

Participants come from three different groups based in the West Midlands; The Spurgeons Young Carers Group - Dudley, Action for Children Birmingham Young Carers and Spurgeons - for kids who care!.

Spurgeons Young Carers Group - Dudley and Spurgeons - for kids who care! work with local services and community groups to raise awareness and improve professional knowledge, skills and identifies young carers. Action for Children is a children's charity that supports and speaks out for the UK's most vulnerable and neglected children and young people. Action for Children Birmingham Young Carers helps the most vulnerable children and young people with significant caring responsibilities by providing them with individual support and breaks from caring.

Ros Perryman, Support Worker with Action for Children said, "We are indebted to the Hippodrome and the Patrick Trust for the fantastic experience they give our Young Carers during the week of theatrical activities. We are grateful for the continued support and opportunities provided by the Patrick Trust and Hippodrome Team. The benefits and significance to the young carers is immense and lasting, providing much needed respite from their care role."

Birmingham Hippodrome's Young Carers week is kindly funded by The Patrick Trust.

Birmingham Hippodrome is an independent, not-for-profit, registered charity. The unsubsidised Hurst Street based venue averages over 500,000 visits annually making it the most popular single auditorium in the UK. With no public revenue funding, it is home to Birmingham Royal Ballet and DanceXchange, presents all of Welsh National Opera's repertoire, welcomes the best in international dance, West End and Broadway musicals and welcomes the world's biggest Pantomime.

Birmingham Hippodrome is currently expanding its Creative Programme building on its successful work in schools and in the community, and with free outdoor performances. With partners including Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council and private funders, the Hippodrome has recently enjoyed co-producing and producing new events including Six Summer Saturdays, International Dance Festival Birmingham, The Voyage (for the London 2012 Festival) and Summer in Southside. It is currently producing the 4 Squares Weekender, a weekend of outdoor arts performnces in celebration of the opening of the Library of Birmingham on behalf of Birmingham Arts Partnership.

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