Chosen Charities
The Festival Theatre is proud to be working with three local charities alongside our production of The Secret Garden. As a registered charity ourselves, we recognise our role within the community as a large scale arts venue with the capacity to enrich the lives of others. We have partnered The Children’s Hospice Association, Hearts and Minds and Drake Music Scotland to help raise awareness of their organisations and the great work they do and to support them with events during The Secret Garden.
Children’s Hospice Association Scotland
The Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) is a Scottish charity that provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
A children’s hospice offers professional care, practical help and emotional support to the whole family usually from the day of acceptance, to the death of their child, and beyond.
Rachel House in Kinross, Scotland’s first children’s hospice, opened in March 1996. Robin House in Balloch opened in August 2005. Both hospices are purpose-built and each can provide ongoing support for up to 200 families across Scotland each year. The CHAS at Home Team offers support to families referred to the hospices by providing a care service to families in their own homes when they need it most.
For more information or to donate please visit www.chas.org.uk
Drake Music Scotland
Drake Music Scotland, believe that disability is no barrier to making music. Since 1997, they have created opportunities across Scotland for over 5000 children and adults with disabilities to learn, compose and perform music independently. Their work takes place in a range of settings including schools, hospitals, youth clubs and day care centres and in partnership with other leading arts organisations. Using both conventional instruments and new inclusive technologies, Drake Music deliver a range of education and training projects enabling participants to compose and play music to whatever level they aspire.
For more information or to donate please visit www.drakemusicscotland.org
Hearts and Minds
Hearts & Minds, a registered Scottish charity, is the home of the Clowndoctors programme in Scotland. The Clowndoctors aim to enhance the experience of children in hospital and hospice, residential and respite care using clown-based techniques to encourage communication, interaction and laughter. They visit children aged from 6 months to 18 years and raise smiles all over Scotland.
The Clowndoctors themselves are carefully selected professional performers who are specially trained to work in a healthcare environment. They use many techniques including improvisation, music, dance, magic, puppetry and games to engage with each child.
For more information or to donate please visit www.heartsminds.org.uk
