Category: Estranged

SAAS Update for Care Experienced and Estranged Students

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 SAAS UPDATE 

For Care Experienced and Estranged Students

SAAS has updated information about support for care experienced and estranged students. If you are care experienced or estranged, make sure you check out their specific grants.

Care Experienced Students can now apply for a Special Support Loan of £2,400 over and above their main undergraduate funding package (bit.ly/saas-cee-update) There is also a summer accommodation grant available – Care Experienced Summer Accommodation Grant of £1330 (for formal accommodation costs) and £665 (for informal accommodation costs). Estranged Student funding for 24/25 will have an additional £2,400 uplift.

Call, email or visit our website

Let's Talk About

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Let’s Talk About 

A new Fair Access Project working with

Care Experienced and Estranged Young People

Young person holding a camera hiding their face
📸 Graeme Roger

Let’s Talk About…our new project working with care experienced and estranged young people in the performing and production arts. 

Supported by the William Grant Foundation, we are hoping to highlight some of the best arts practice happening across Scotland. We’ve kickstarted the project in Aberdeenshire, working with one of the nine care groups overseen by Holly Robertson, Aberdeenshire’s Virtual Head Teacher. We visited the Meldrum Academy care group on a field trip to Newburgh Seal Beach with our artists in residence, Graeme Roger and Dave Martin. 8 young people got to grips with how to use film, photography, sound equipment and even drones on the beach. We can’t wait to see what work they produce at their exhibition later in the year. 

Let’s Talk About…is taking place in Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, on Mull and beyond this autumn and winter and we will be sharing how the project is going on a brand-new website soon. In the meantime, if you want to read about some of our care experienced work we did last year, check out our Sounding Out report.

If you are care experienced or estranged and interested in studying the performing and production arts, you might be eligible for our Transitions programme. Find out more about how to apply to Transitions on our website.

Open Call for Care Experienced/Estranged Performers

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Open Call for 

 Care Experienced / Estranged 

 Performers 

An RCS Fair Access Project,

Funded by the William Grant Foundation

A group of young people performing in a hall

The Fair Access department at RCS are seeking care experienced or estranged performers for the rehearsal and tour of a short, well-developed work in progress aimed at children aged 5 – 8. Please note, this will be a fictional story-led show, based on ideas from children.

Performers can be from any artform but must be comfortable in a collaborative devising process and be experienced at interacting with young children in a performing arts context (eg. workshop delivery or performance).

We are looking for open, playful and imaginative performers who enjoy working in non-theatre spaces and are committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment for audiences.

The Fair Access department wants to create opportunities for care experienced and estranged performers in a professional setting that is supported by experienced practitioners.

The project involves: 

  • 3 development days in Glasgow (potentially including workshops in primary schools) – week beginning 11th December 2023. 
  • 2 weeks full-time rehearsal in Glasgow – weeks beginning 8th and 15th January 2024. 
  • 5-day (approx.) tour in various locations around Scotland – week beginning 22nd or 29th January 2024 (tbc).  

Project Fees: 

  • £2500 (3 development days, 2 weeks rehearsal, 5-day tour). 
  • Travel, accommodation and subsistence covered during 5-day tour. 
  • Performers will be employed on a freelance basis and responsible for own tax/NI. 

To express interest in auditioning please use the form above to tell us a bit about yourself, your performance experience and why you would like to be considered. You may also submit a CV if desired.

Deadline for applicants:

Monday 23 October 2023 at 12noon. 

Auditions will take the form of a practical workshop on Thursday 9 November 2023 from 10am – 12noon at RCS, 100 Renfrew Street, G2 3DB. 

Contact Us

If you would like more information, please contact us on transitions@rcs.ac.uk with the subject ‘Open Call Query’

Focus Group: Care Experienced and Estranged Students

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Fair Access Focus Group 

 Care Experienced & Estranged Student 

Wed 4 October 2023 & Wed 7 February 2024, 6 – 7:30pm

A group of people chatting round a table
©RCS-Robbie McFadzean

You are warmly invited to come along to our Fair Access Focus Group for Care Experienced and Estranged Students here at RCS. This focus group is run by Jesse Paul, the Head of Fair Access and is designed to give you the opportunity to contribute your ideas about how RCS should support care experienced and estranged students. Members of the RCS and Transitions staff will be in attendance to hear your views so that we can best understand ways to support you.

Dates for the diaries:
Book now to secure your place on the Focus Groups taking place from 6pm on:

  • Wednesday 4 October 2023
  • Wednesday 7 February 2024

 Click Here for the Booking Page 

Future reminders:
Keep details of this Focus Group in your calendar or diaries but you can also check the dates at any time on our online calendar.

Got questions?
You can get in touch with Jesse at: j.paul@rcs.ac.uk

Exhibition of Photographs, Film and Sound by The Care Group

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Exhibition of Photographs, Film & Sound 

Monday 28 November, 6:30-7:30pm

John Swan Atrium at the Gordon Schools

Fair Access at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland are super proud to have supported 8 young people, known as The Care Group at the Gordon Schools in Huntley, Aberdeenshire. They worked together over a three-month period with Graeme Roger (film and visual arts), Dave Martin (music production) and Ross Carbarns (DJ, performer, writer). Together they explored a range of artforms inspired by art gallery visits, beach walks and from spending time together as a group.

Person looking out to landscape in sunset Person holding camera towards you in front of their face A group of young people with filming equipment on a beach Young person peering over castle wall

Their work will be presented in a public exhibition, taking place at the John Swan Atrium at the Gordon Schools, Monday 28 November at 6:30-7:30pm. If you are in the area, why not pop your head into the exhibition – we think you’ll love it.

‘I want people to see me as artistic and be able to help other people with problems if they have any’ 

‘I want to be seen as a person, I would hope they like me and accept me for who I am’.

In partnership with Fair Access at RCS

Fair Access Go North!

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Fair Access Go North! 

Spooky Castles, Amazing Photographers,

Visual Performance and Production Arts

Person wearing a horned mask sitting on a castle wall.

A few weeks ago, some of our Fair Access team travelled by train to Aberdeenshire for a spooky Halloween visit to Slains Castle, said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. We met with The Care Group from the Gordon Schools in Huntley on a windswept and wild photography, film and sound adventure. We’ve been partnering with Wildbird and The Care Group on a 3-month project and we’re heading back up to see their amazing exhibition later this month. Can’t wait!

While we were up North, we paid a visit to the Creative Team at Eden Court in Inverness. We’ve got plans afoot to work with Eden Court to support Deaf learners at the theatre and beyond.  We’re heading up the road with a team from our BA Performance crew who will deliver Visual Performance sessions in British Sign Language and English at Dingwall Academy and also at Eden Court where they deliver a whole host of performing arts SQA Drama programmes.  We’ll be at Dingwall Academy on 2 December and Eden Court 3 December.

We are also working in partnership with Eden Court to develop and deliver hands-on activity for young people and their teachers interested in exploring the Production Arts. You can find out more about RCS Production Arts degree programmes on the RCS website. 

A mighty thank you to Aberdeenshire, Highland and Ross-shire for being so welcoming! Watch this space to find out more about our Northerly activity over the coming year.

 Visit the Fair Access Website 

If you would like to know more about the work Fair Access do, head over to our website at: rcs.ac.uk/fair-access

Fair Access | Care Experienced and Estranged Student Focus Group

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Fair Access 

 Care Experienced & Estranged Student 

 Focus Group 

Wed 28 Sept 2022 & Wed 11 Jan 2023, 6 – 8pm

People using highlighters to write on a roll of paper

You are warmly invited to come along to our Fair Access Care Experienced and Estranged Focus Group here at RCS.

What it’s for:

This focus group is to learn about the experiences of our Pre-HE & UG/PG Care Experienced and Estranged Students so that we can improve what we do.

Dates for the diaries:
Book now to secure your place on the Focus Groups taking place from 6pm on:

  • Wednesday 28 September 2022
  • Wednesday 11 January 2023

 Click Here for the Booking Page 

Future reminders:
Keep details of this Focus Group in your calendar or diaries but you can also check the dates at any time on our online calendar.

Call Out for Early Years R&D Opportunity

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 Experimentation Playground 

Making Performance for Tinies

Young girl making drama scene face and hands.

Are you care experienced, estranged or a former Transitions student? Do you like the idea of making performance for tiny people? Would you like to be paid £150 to take part in a week of R&D between 25 and 29 July at RCS?

The Fair Access department is looking for 4 students to take part in a week of R&D focusing on making performance for early years. You will be working alongside 4 care experienced young people aged 18-25 from the Citizens Theatre.

We will be focusing on creative play and the week will be co-led by early years practitioner Corrie McKendrick alongside our Fair Access Manager Jesse Paul and Outreach Officer Louise Brown.

The emphasis of the R&D will be to share skills, explore early years theatre making and create joy. We are keen to hear from people across all disciplines.

If you are interested, please fill in the form below:

Deadline: 8 July 2022 at 5pm

 Get In Touch 

If you require any further information or have any questions, email: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

Bridging Programme: BEd (Music Teaching)

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 BEd BRIDGING PROGRAMME 

Start Date: September 2022

Two young women practicing violin

Are you interested in studying at RCS in music teaching? This Fair Access Bridging Programme aims to enhance your understanding of the educational context of music teaching and in getting you ready to apply.

The core sessions will be based on the Curriculum for Excellence and aim to build understanding of related policies, vocal Leadership, lesson planning and coaching skills. Participants may also be offered optional activities in subjects such as piano accompaniment, music technology and composition. 

This course is aimed at those aged 16+ who are either living in an SIMD1 postcode area or are care experienced or estranged or black, indigenous or person of colour. 

Register your interest by clicking the button below:

 Get In Touch 

If you require any further information or have any questions, email: fairaccesshello@rcs.ac.uk

What It Means To Be Me | Screening and Discussion Feedback

Posted on by Yvonne McLellan

 What It Means To Be Me 

Screening and Discussion

“So far this project has very much been an experience of discovery and inner expression. I have loved every second and I am excited to work on what’s next” – Estranged UG Student RCS 2022

‘It’s unbelievable to be in a room full of people who get it…I didn’t know I could be somebody that made a film or wrote something’ – RCS CE&E Collective Member 2022

55 people attended our recent screening and discussion event, working across government departments such as The Promise, several local authorities, colleges, Skills Development Scotland, third sector organisations and creative organisations such as Screen Education Scotland. 20 of the attendees have expressed an interest to join a steering group that seeks to develop best practice in supporting care experienced and estranged young people to access the arts through education and career pathways.  

One of our RCS students involved in our projects throughout stated 

“It was amazing different people’s experiences coming together and knowing that you don’t feel alone…how supportive people have become” – RCS Student 2021

One audience member and regular participant acknowledged the impact our projects had had: 

“I’ve been in kinship care since I was 10, and I wasn’t able to communicate who I was until I did projects like these” – Participant 2022

Another audience member spoke for the very first time about their own care experience: 

“I’ve never knowingly met anyone who has this shared experience – and what they were expressing through the film and after, the discussion, was so relatable and familiar” – Audience Member 2022

Being able to track change and improvements through our projects helps us to influence the shape of Widening Access and Widening Participation practice, particularly when it relates to the arts. Perhaps the most significant learning that has come from this year of activity is the necessity to work together to bring about powerful change. In the words of one of our student collaborators:

‘If you help me and I help you – then that is empowerment” – RCS CE&E Collective Member 2022

Find out more about our Fair Access programmes and GMAC Film by clicking the links.