Freelance facilitators

Big Telly Theatre Company is always keen to welcome new arts facilitators who are interested in working with, or gaining experience, on Spring Chickens our innovative arts programme with older people which operates throughout Northern Ireland, and in the border counties.

Spring Chickens One our first two year programme, was about strengthening voices.
Spring Chickens Two (2010 - 2013) is about imagining solutions and building capacity.

Imagining Solutions uses the creative arts for older people to imagine a perfect world, a unique opportunity to envision and explore ways in which society should better serve the older generation.

Building capacity is about implementing practical strategies for older people, to play a more active role within their communities.

Older people are frequently valued because of their memories rather their contribution to the present and the future. Compounded by the impact of age discrimination, poverty and isolation, the need to empower older people as catalysts of change is both urgent and compelling. We believe that there is a real opportunity for the arts to facilitate the imagining of solutions to issues faced by older people.

Big Telly is keen to hear from any freelance theatre based artform facilitators who are keen to explore these themes, through drama, creative writing, dance, improvisation, music, puppetry, film, clowning.... Freelancers are hired as required for a one-off workshop, or a series of workshops with one group. A workshop is normally ninety minutes. We work with older people in a wide range of residential and care homes, sheltered accommodation, health trust day care centres, community centres, church and council venues throughout Northern Ireland. Due to the nature of this work, as a freelance facilitator access to a car and a clean driving licence is essential.

Applications from facilitators with experience of working in the creative arts with older people, and facilitators that don’t have the experience of working with older people but would welcome the opportunity to shadow facilitators that do, are both welcome.

To apply, please e-mail a letter of interest outlining your experience and/or interest in this project, along with a 2 page CV.

'The Spring Chickens Programme has been a very successful one. It has managed to achieve two quite distinct objectives, on the one hand bringing interest and quality to the lives of older people, particularly isolated older people, and on the other, raising awareness about society’s often misguided perceptions about older people, and their role.'

Dec 2009:
External Evaluation Report, Spring Chickens Programme ’07 - ’09.