THEATRE for CHANGE GALWAY, CLG
ANNUAL REPORT 2004
December 2024
The Board of Directors met on five occasions since the 2023 AGM. The Board also convened joint meetings with the Steering/Practitioners Group and three of these meetings were held. The joint meetings provide a very useful forum for discussion.
With regard to funding, there was a successful application made to the Nelson Mandela/Equality, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) Fund in the University of Galway, devoted to the theme of ‘belonging’. A successful application was also made to Galway City Council’s Culture Night fund. Applications to Galway City Council for the City Arts fund and the Local Enhancement Scheme were not successful. An EU Erasmus+ application is in train, devoted to the theme of ‘care’, in various contexts, including, professional carers – e.g. doctors, nurses, and also carers in the home. The proposed partnership involves organisations in Austria (Vienna), Germany (Leipzig) and possibly Portugal, as well as TfCG in Ireland. Austria is the lead partner in the proposed project. While obtaining these funds is positive, it remains the case that achieving secure funding for the company is a pressing issue. In this regard Jim (Aherne) took part in a Rethink Social Enterprise course. While there wasn’t funding resulting from this course, Jim has maintained contact with attendees on the course which allows for the exchange of useful and relevant information. It is desirable that ongoing and larger amounts of funding are secured. Ideally, there would be funding for a paid administrator.
To address the immediate requirement for administrative assistance the option of a Community Employment Scheme placement, open to people who are in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, was explored. Discussions were held with the Galway Roscommon Education & Training Board (GRETB) and the SCCUL Enterprise Centre in Ballybane. The GRETB has approved the placement in principle, and SCCUL can provide a hot desk space in its centre. This would be an initiative to be taken up in 2025, on the basis that TfCG has the capacity to provide oversight and mentorship.
Discussions about what should be the focus of TfCG work took place during the past year. One key conclusion is that the ‘Training the Trainer’ model is the most appropriate. A key objective of the work is to build capacity within communities, using the creative processes of applied drama, rather than getting involved in the delivery of work/services in communities. It is ‘process’ rather than ‘product’ that characterises the work of TfCG – it could be said that ‘the process is the product.’ Work with community-based organisations, the education sector and also partnership with Institute for Lifecourse & Society (ILAS) can form the basis of TfCG collaborations. Doing work with business organisations is also an option, on the basis that it has a social justice focus and the funds generated are used to subsidise work with community-based organisations. From time to time, individual projects, such as the recent Care project and work with Rethink Ireland can also be carried out. More detailed information about the work carried out by the TfCG practitioners is contained in the Practitioner’s Report section below.
Expanding Board membership is considered another pressing issue and Jim made successful contacts through Board Match and Galway Volunteer Centre in relation to this. Prospective Board members have been identified, as well as an accountant, Rahul Vashisth, who, while not wishing to be a Board member, is available to help in the preparation of the accounts for the Companies Registration Office. Rahul was in a position to help with the 2023 accounts.
BHP continues to be the insurance provider for TfCG. A condition of the insurance includes having a Protection Policy for Vulnerable Adults. This has been developed and was approved by the Board in January 2024. Cormac (Forkan) is the Designated Officer and Ann (Lyons) is Deputy Designated Officer.
Thank-you to everyone for all your work during the past year. Thank-you also to ILAS and the Child & Family Research Centre especially, for facilitating access to rooms in the ILAS building. This makes an important ant in-kind contribution to the work of TfCG. There is ongoing attention regarding the future development of TfCG and we look forward to this future coming to fruition.
Practitioner’s Report
TfCG activities from October 2023 to December 2024
