A more representative workforce
Blue Apple now supports two performers in paid roles and has plans to employ more.
The employment rate of learning disabled adults in UK is below 5%. There are some barriers:
Learning disabled people find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate.
They may need some support with learning new tasks or with understanding new situations.
With little previous work experience they may lack confidence and need a little extra support.
Yet, with tailored support, these barriers can be overcome. Blue Apple is also exploring opportunities for participants to undertake paid work externally, not only in performing roles, but also as trainers, workshop leaders and experts by experience.
Inclusive arts leadership
Blue Apple is one of seven inclusive arts organisations in the UK working with Access All Areas in Transforming Leadership – a bespoke career development programme and coaching culture for potential learning-disabled leaders. The aim is to radically challenge ideas about who can lead across the Arts and demonstrate the significant potential for learning disabled leaders to drive accessibility in the sector.
Blue Apple Theatre's involvement in this transformative initiative aligns with its mission to challenge preconceptions and showcase the abilities and potential of learning disabled individuals within the arts. The Transforming Leadership Programme, initiated and led by Access All Areas, aims to address the exclusion of individuals with learning disabilities from crucial leadership discussions, fostering a more inclusive cultural landscape.
Blue Apple’s Artistic Director Richard Conlon said: “From Blue Apple's point of view, the Transforming Leadership initiative is our first real meaningful chance to take people from a voluntary approach into the real world of work because it definitely negotiates the tricky world of moving from benefits to earnings in a way that didn't seem possible before.”
Anna Brisbane: leadership in governance
Anna Brisbane, focusing on inclusive governance, dedicates two to two and a half hours bi-weekly to Zoom sessions. She emphasises her goal to prove that individuals with learning disabilities can actively contribute to leadership decisions. Anna is now attending Blue Apple trustee meetings, supported by an assistant.
James Benfield: leadership in directing
James Benfield, engaged in co-directing, describes workshop scenarios and role-playing exercises aimed at developing leadership skills. His recent trip to Nottingham Playhouse provided the opportunity to collaborate with fellow trainees, fostering a supportive environment for learning and growth. James recently co-led an external workshop for students at a Hampshire college and is looking forward to more future opportunities and to opening up opportunities for others.
Both participants express enthusiasm for the programme's impact on their personal and professional development. Anna and James highlight the importance of mentor support, emphasising the role of mentors in aiding their understanding during programme activities.
When asked about their main goals, Anna stresses her ambition to show that people with learning disabilities can take part in leadership decisions, such as board or trustee meetings, while James envisions a future with increased opportunities for individuals with autism or learning disabilities to assume leadership roles.
The Transforming Leadership Programme is set to run for two years, and both James and Anna enthusiastically recommend it to others, underscoring its potential to open doors for individuals with learning disabilities in the arts sector.
A moment showing Anna during the Transforming Leadership Programme residential trip. Anna Brisbane (left) with mentor Sue Dashper enjoying a workshop during the London residential course Autumn 2023. Photo credit: Eve-Lyne Bertrand from Access All Areas Theatre.
James Benfield and Anna Brisbane, shared insights into their experiences with the Transforming Leadership Programme in a recent video interview, shortly after their return from a residential segment of the programme.