Providing Drama Opportunities for
Children with disabilities.
Registered as a Charity No. 1058268
Reactivate Limited is a Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales No. 3230042
is a registered charity whose aim is to promote drama, music and dance for disabled children by providing them with opportunities to experience theatre both as performers and as an audience.
Contact us
You can contact by post
c/o Linda Robertson, 8 Green Meadows, New Broughton, Wrexham, LL11 6SG
or by e-mail to
reactivate@btconnect.com
Trustees
Ms. L.M. Robertson
Mr. W.G. Robertson
S.Giles
M. Robertson
E. Davies
A. Bell
HELP US
Donations
If you would like to help by donating money, donating goods or services, or your time please get in touch with us.
History
became a charity in September 1996, taking over the work of a small group of volunteers (most of whom are still with us).
The original group had a background in Theatre and shared a common belief that the only way to improve future theatre audiences was, and still is, to introduce Theatre performances into Schools at an early age; and the earlier, the better. This being particularly true for children and young people with SEN. These children are often excluded from such experiences, despite being the group that probably benefits most.
So with these objects in mind, the group headed by the chairperson, Linda Robertson set about raising funds to allow disabled youngsters to experience theatre both as performers and as an audience.
In 1992, the group began in a small way by raising enough money to allow a few local (North Wales) Special Schools to have a free performance of a Pantomime being toured by the Bitesize Theatre Company. The feedback was overwhelmingly favourable and it proved to be an important learning exercise for all involved.
Bitesize went away to look at ways of improving their shows for disabled audiences; increasing the visual elements; putting in more colour and movement; increasing audience participation; introducing more music; and even smells.
The group went off to raise more money to allow more Schools to benefit from their efforts and so the following year, 30 Special Schools in North Wales, the North West and North Midlands had free shows. Again, Bitesize provided the show. The response was again overwhelmingly positive and so it continued for another two years. We were able to help children with emotional or behavioural problems, learning difficulties, physically handicaps and those with hearing or sight problems. Four of the schools catered solely for children with sensory deprivation.
But over that time, the group, increasingly, began to receive replies from Trusts and other Charitable Organisations, saying that they would like to contribute to the appeals but that they were restricted to only giving to Registered Charities. The group decided that the best route forward was to become a Registered Charity and so was born.
After over 25 years and having funded 1000’s of performances, the charity still has no paid staff, being run entirely by the trustees and a number of able-bodied volunteers, who help to supplement the Charity’s fund-raising with raffles and other events; as they all pursue the Charities mission to give children and young people the opportunity to experience live theatre, whether in a school or community setting, in performance or workshops, both as spectators and as performers.
The COVID19 pandemic gave new challenges. Schools closed their doors to visiting Theatre Companies, and so we set about helping disabled children aged 3 – 19 yrs across North Wales, to keep connected and explore drama to increase confidence in the wake of the lockdown. Now connected on a weekly basis to the Bitesize Youth Theatre, the charity funds trained support teachers, to allow young people with SEN, to access classes in Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre in the Wrexham area.
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Documents
Memorandum & Articles
Documents
Child Protection Policy
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