Classes

Everyone needs a safe space to be themselves, coming to Strachur Youth drama gives our members exactly that! Kirstie - Creative Director

Our classes....

or club sessions, are designed entirely for the children who attend, they let us know where we're going and are delighted where we end up.

The members of Strachur Youth Drama or SYD as we all affectionately call it, are from a wide area and at present come from over five different primary schools and at least two grammar schools, not a small statement considering our rural location. In fact we are always amazed and delighted that children and parents are so keen to travel considerable distances to be a part of our club and believe it's a reflection of how many families believe in our ethos.

Our sessions are child led and reflect the needs, likes and development of our members.

Our age groups....

are split into four sessions with a general guidance using school year groups. These ages of children in no way reflects the stages of development,

confidence or preference in every child and the attendance in each group will be discussed with the child and parents/carers to make sure everyone feels comfortable and confident.

This means we will always collaborate with parents/carers, and children will only move into other groups when ready and happy to do so.

We have many events, fund-raisers and productions throughout the year where our members work together and mix in the most fun ways benefitting our members and volunteers who gain so much from this.

Our members and all who work, volunteer and support the children and club think of themselves as one big creative family, where our members feel safe and welcome and feel each other have their backs.

Our Costs....

Being a voluntary group, and partnering with Strachur Youth Club, (see About Us), we are entirely self-funded and as such have no regular government or local authority funding.

We are occasionally fortunate enough to be granted money we have applied for, on a specific project, (see partnerships), but on the whole our costs are met by membership fees paid on a weekly basis, and through our fund-raising efforts that we actively encourage all members and families to participate in.

Not only does this mean we are able to run our clubs to the high standards and offer the opportunities we do, but that we are able to keep the costs for each member at a minimum enabling access to ALL children no matter what.

We are also incredibly lucky to be a part of Strachur & District as the community have always been immensely supportive and generous, and as a club we have always played a very active part in our community (see About US - community).

We do have extra costs when putting on performances for costumes and trips, but again these are kept to a minimum with fund-raising and some wonderful sponsors.

If any member of our community or public has a desire to help out our club, please get in touch, there are many ways you can support us and enable ALL our children to benefit from the club.

Inclusion, no matter a child's economic background or specific needs, has always been an integral part of what we are about, we would never put a family in a position of not being able to afford to participate. With this in mind our parents are encouraged to speak privately and with total confidentiality to one of our Drama Leaders if they are experiencing any difficulty in affording subs, it will be fine and we will sort it.

Our Volunteers.....

are the backbone of our club, without them the very idea of introducing a performance arts children's club in Strachur & District, would never have started let alone developed into the amazingly successful club we now have.

Having recognised a gap in the provision of any drama activities locally, mother and daughter team, Sheena and Kirstie Dowse started a weekly drama session with 8 core members back in 2010 in the local village hall. You can find out all about their story on 'Home' page.

All our volunteers are trained and experienced and are members of the Disclosure Scotland scheme. We are associated through membership with Youth Scotland where we take guidance through shared policies and we are insured.

Please let us know if volunteering at our club on a regular basis is something you would be interested in and we would be delighted to have a chat with you. If you are over 18 and have a passion for drama and children and would be interested in our mentoring scheme to train you as a drama provider please get in touch.

Further info here -

Our Inclusivity....

We know that every child is unique. We know that each child develops different skills at different ages. We also know that one size never fits all and as such our sessions are designed to let the drama and your child lead the way.

We have an inclusive policy at SYD, so our classes are open to all and no auditions are required to become a member.

We would encourage parents/carers to discuss any additional needs for your child with us so we can do all in our power to accommodate and more importantly understand your child better.

The importance of regular communication cannot be expressed enough as it forms the partnership between us all.

This does not mean we have lower expectations of your child, and we actively encourage each child to reach their full potential.

We absolutely believe and actively seek to run our club with no bias or discrimination to anyone no matter race, religion, gender identification or abilities.

Leaving your child...

Appreciating the journey time some families have of getting to Strachur, we have a room set aside for parents to use during their child's drama session.

There is free tea and coffee on offer in our kitchen quite often with some home-baking to boot. Some of our parents take the opportunity to go for a walk or a run through the village, and some parents take it as an opportunity to read a book or meet other parents, whatever your comfortable doing.

If you and your child feel that they would like you to stay in our drama hall each week, we are delighted for you to do so for as long as it gives your child confidence and encourages them to participate.

Once everyone feels happy for you to leave, which will be different for every family, we will discuss the transition with you at every step. As part of your registration process we would hold an emergency contact number for you and would encourage you to up-date it if something changes.

It is our belief that children need time and space to grow in confidence and it is our experience that this is achieved in big jumps or tiny steps, but it is achieved and their independence at our classes is a valued skill for life.

'Our Parents and Carers...

are our most important partners, without you our club would not exist.

We are lucky enough to have always had the utmost support and respect from parents over the years of our club and we can not thank them enough. From understanding their often long journey on a weekly basis, fitting in extra rehearsals to their busy schedules, offering their time to help at productions, we have always appreciated and applauded the support families have shown, not just for their child but for the volunteers and whole club. Amazing when you think about everyone's busy lives.'

Sheena Dowse Creative Director

Registration....

is completed using a combined Strachur & Dist. Youth & Drama membership scheme form available from us.

This registers your child for both clubs, giving the extra opportunity of joining in on the fun-filled youth club sessions as well as drama.

There is absolutely no pressure to attend youth club sessions, just an added bonus if it's something your child would enjoy.

See 'Community' to get a fuller picture.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any part of the process.

Our taster sessions....

We would encourage any child who fancies giving SYD a go, to come along and join in on one of our sessions, see if it's a fit for you and your child. It would also give us a chance to chat and answer any questions you may have.

This session would be Free!

Please contact us to arrange a date.