Flying Start to the Term

Well what a non-stop conveyor-belt of a month it has been, with loads of new staff being inducted, the start of new clubs and classes like Junior Rock School and Blues Night, our biggest footfall yet of around 140 per week, one of our staff being short-listed for a national award, and so much more to still come like the relaunch of Tea-Dance next Saturday with Natasha Nostalgia and The Blue Rib-band, and our Open Evening on the 22nd October ...

New Staff: the picture in the gallery of the staff, all 16 of us, represents a proud moment, signifying our ever increasing diversity and growth as we develop our drama and arts provisions alongside the core music and electronics. It has been such a whirlwind over the last three weeks, but it already feels like the new staff have been with us forever, and it is brilliant for the team and of course our participants to have all this new passion and energy!

Junior Rock School was relaunched a few weeks ago, and already has a long waiting list - and Blues Night, is running on a Wednesday night now - and there are more art classes than ever, and still some places left on the Thursday night Drama club.

We now have 14 young people on a Smart-Ways programme, which is an individualized vocational course spread over 14 hours per week for young people 16-25 who require a more personalized approach in their creative-arts training. The open evening for our 2020/21 programme is on Tuesday October 22nd in the hall, 6-8pm, for anyone interested, or for those who would just like to hear a bit about us, or witness our 16 young people who attained qualifications last year receive their certificates.

Neil Card, our Music Director, has been in the limelight - not just locally (check out the recent Press report also featuring Jonny the Wolf, one of our participants) - but nationally too - and he will be travelling to Battersea, London - a short-listed nominee (out of 600) for the Inspiring Music Leader of the year award. Good luck Neil!

Tea Dance resumes next Saturday 5th. Natasha Nostalgia and The Blue Rib-Band will be performing their 1940s set, and everyone is invited to dance away the afternoon, 1.30-3.00pm. Tickets are just £2 including refreshments. No need to book, just turn up.

Finally - a shout out to the various musical projects of our staff team. The fact that staff are involved in music in their personal lives enhances and lifts the work they do with THS, so just in case you aren't aware : Dougie and Joe are in Solar Bats, Graham and Dougie are in Perfect Shambles, Neil is aka D.Ni.L and also guitarist and producer with Wasabi Fire Alarm, which both Al and I are also in - Natasha, Joe Christie and Graham (with Dougie standing in for Vanessa) are in Natasha Nostalgia and The Blue Rib-band, Joe Christie is also Piano Joe and finally, there is my good self, Sue, launching my new project: Middle Aged Lady Mashups.

Hats off to the music!