Huge thanks all those involved with creating It’s My Choice and excited about website launch
It’s My Choice is our online version of our much acclaimed touring showing It’s My Move.
When it became apparent that Covid restrictions would mean we couldn’t tour our show, we had to have a rethink.
We know how valuable SEN (Special Educational Needs) Schools find our show – helping those moving on to the next stage of their lives articulate what they want to do, and feel empowered to do it in a way that suits them.
We anticipate touring It’s My Move again nationally in Autumn 2021 (Covid allowing – all our fingers are crossed) but we couldn’t let this year’s cohort of leavers move on without the opportunity to see the show and be heard.
We, Artistic Director Ray Downing and Executive Director Jon French, pulled together a crack team of creatives to create an online experience that would replicate the benefits of the touring show online. A great team of cast and crew worked extremely hard, in a covid-safe way, to repurpose the project into something we are really proud of.
Without wanting this to sound too much like an Oscar speech special thanks goes to the amazing:
- Director and co-writer Annie Smol MBE (jazannearts.co.uk)
- Film Maker and Editor Mark Ratcliff (fellowproductions.com)
- Local Artist and Graphic Designer Nigel Kellaway (nigelkellaway.co.uk).
- the Council of Disabled Children (https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk) for their ongoing partnership and permission to use footage from It’s My Life.
The resulting production has already gained plaudits from our funders and schools – here is just some of the feedback we have received:
‘Every aspect of how to make resources as useful as possible when transferring from live to online seems to have been considered by Face Front. The overall standard of all the resources is incredibly high… Enormous congratulations to all those involved in making such invaluable comprehensive educational content… I would consider this online resource to be an exemplar of best practice in moving from live to online delivery.’
(Anna Hoddinott and Jean Carter of the John Lyon’s Charity)
‘Very impressive’ (Barnet and Southgate College)
‘….fantastic resources … produced for teachers to use with their students to explore transition to adulthood.’ (West Lea School)
‘We would definitely want to access this resource.’ (New Horizons)
‘… this looks like a great resource’ (Oaklands School)
‘I am so excited to be introducing this amazing project and resource, thank you once again on behalf of everyone at Oaktree.’ (Oaktree School)
Even when we are able to resume touring ‘It’s My Move’ to schools again, we hope that the online resource of ‘It’s My Choice’ will continue to be accessed by schools across the UK whom we aren’t able to visit in person. We’d also love to hear back from any teachers and students who engage with the ‘It’s My Choice’ materials to find out what you thought of the programme.