I am a Junior Social Impact Advisor and champion of creative approaches for learning and development. I am excited to be joining the Board of an organisation so deeply committed to supporting children and so genuinely passionate about amplifying young people’s voices.
Read MoreAlison is proud to have been involved in Speech Bubbles since the start many years ago! She has a specialism in creating Speech Bubbles practice in SEND settings and loves being part of inclusive creative spaces where playful interactions can happen. She is also joint Creative Director of Peoplescape Theatre who are a franchise partner for Speech Bubbles in Manchester.
Read MoreAmie has been a Speech Bubbles Practitioner since 2018, and has worked with young people in drama and theatre for 20 years.
She’s also a writer, theatre maker, and the director of Fun Palaces; a campaign that aims to put arts and culture at the heart of communities across the UK.
She loves working on Speech Bubbles, and getting to spend time each week diving into to an imaginative space, exploring children’s stories and getting to play and be silly.
Read MoreCarys is a freelance creative practitioner specialising in drama, storytelling and poetry. She manages an acrobatic and dance youth programme in Hackney and delivers anti-bullying training nationwide with The Diana Award. Through Speech Bubbles, she loves bringing stories to life and creating playful spaces where children can be heard. She’s passionate about creating connections and seeing drama and storytelling spark confidence, creativity, and change.
Read MoreAmelia Bird is a Designer and Director specialising in visual theatre.
Amelia is a freelance artist, previously working with London Bubble Theatre on their programme of socially engaged theatre projects for children. Prior to that she was the Artistic Director of touring theatre company Gomito Productions.
Read MoreI believe passionately about celebrating the artist in everyone. I specialise in delivering creative learning and community-led participation programmes for a range of audiences, across a range of art forms. After many years leading the learning and programming team at Discover, where we ran programmes of literacy, play and drama-based projects for families and schools in East London, I currently work at Sadler's Wells where I oversee Learning & Engagement operations across its multiple venues.
I’m excited to join the Board of Trustees at Speech Bubbles and support the team to create more opportunities for children to tell their stories, grow their confidence and have fun at the same time.
Read MoreI am delighted to be part of the Speech Bubbles Advisory team and to have seen the project grow and enrich children's lives over the years. Eve Bearne and David Reedy describe spoken language as" the bedrock of children's personal, social, cultural, cognitive, creative and imaginative development,' and what could be more important than that?
Read MoreEmily is a scriptwriter, storyteller, actor and maker based in Manchester with a passion for puppets and playing. Joint Creative Director of Peoplescape Theatre (CIO), Emily has loved her 13 years of Speech Bubbles so far!
Read MoreFlo has been delivering Speech Bubbles since 2016 across London. Currently she delivers with Immediate Theatre in Hackney and for Speech Bubbles CIO in Lambeth. She is also a Speech Bubbles associate and has led training and supervision visits. Every year she loves watching children gain confidence, work together and use their imagination in a playful environment. Flo believes Speech Bubbles really does transform the lives of the children and school staff involved in the project, by giving everyone a voice.
Read MoreRebecca Burgess is a comic artist and illustrator working in the UK. They have both written and illustrated several award winning YA and children’s books, and are particularly passionate about sharing their own personal experiences of autism in the form of fun and emotional stories. Outside of drawing and cuddling their cat, Rebecca also loves playing RPGs with friends, going on deep dives into history and growing vegetables in their humble Bristol flat.
Rebecca felt drawn to Speech Bubbles due to both their personal experiences with autism, and their professional work around communicating difficult inner feelings through art.
https://www.rebeccaburgess.co.uk/
Read MoreMy relationship with Speech Bubbles has grown from being a close neighbour - literally just across the road, to now being on the board of trustees.
I have really enjoyed the development of this relationship and it was a very natural step to go along with them on the next part of their adventure, if only to pay them back for allowing me to play the role of a parakeet!
It is incredibly satisfying to be able to apply the various skills I have learnt throughout my career in finance and pension trustee work and find that they are still of use.
Read MoreI am a theatre director and creative arts practitioner, and have been delivering Speech Bubbles in Tunbridge Wells for nearly a decade, always accompanied by my trusty mascot, Badger (a lion, of course). In 2022/23, we ran Speech Bubbles in 69 schools, benefiting over 1,200 children each week.
As Creative Director and Deputy CEO of Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, I oversee our youth theatre, participatory activities and the programming of our beautiful building - a converted Decimus Burton church. I am also a trustee and youth theatre director of The Oast Theatre, Tonbridge, the group I was a member of as a teenager.
There, I experienced first-hand the difference the arts can make to children's communication and confidence. Now, I love seeing the positive impact Speech Bubbles and youth theatre has on the children and young people I work with each week.
I am proud to be a trustee of Speech Bubbles and to help support the programme as it reaches even more children.
Read MoreJenny Harris is a freelance drama practitioner based in Manchester.
She has worked as part of the Speech Bubbles team since 2017.
She has delivered Speech Bubbles CIO for M6 Theatre Company in Rochdale and now delivers evaluation sessions as well as doing supervisions, which she loves.
She loves Speech Bubbles because it places the child and their stories at the heart of the work. It’s hugely empowering for children with a range of communication needs.
Jenny is proud to be part of the Speech Bubbles family!
Read MoreLiz Atkin is an artist and educator. She has been a Speech Bubbles practitioner since 2017 teaching in London and Kent and was commissioned to create an artwork for the programme. Her own work reimagines her Compulsive Skin Picking and anxiety into drawings, photographs and performances. Liz is a mental health advocate and raises awareness for the disorder around the world. She has exhibited and taught in the UK, Europe, Australia, USA, Singapore and Japan. Her work is permanently held in the Wellcome Collection, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, Derby Museum, and Bethlem Gallery Collection supported by the Peter Sowerby Foundation and National Lottery Heritage Fund. She is an ambassador for The Big Draw, the world’s largest drawing festival, focusing on the role of creativity for health and wellbeing. Liz received the People’s Choice Award and the Judge’s Favourite Award with the Contemporary Art Academy Award at the inaugural exhibition of Contemporary Kent Artists.
Read MoreJulie is a freelance drama practitioner and has worked for Speech bubbles for 5 years. She loves the fun, expression and positive collaboration that Speech bubbles encourages in children at school.
Julie has extensive experience of working with children and young people. She has used drama, theatre and the arts for confidence, creativity and to give voice to primary and secondary school children, young people with disabilities, children looked after as well as adults at end of life.
Julie writes and performs poetry and has written and adapted for the stage.
Read MoreSupporting young people, increasing access & inclusion within the arts, and removing barriers is a huge part of my life. I'm delighted to be part of the Speech Bubbles advisory group and look forward to further supporting the organisation's wonderful work.
Read MoreKirsty is a Rose-Bruford trained performer and drama facilitator who specialises in working with and for children. She loves to play. Sensory theatre, visual storytelling and puppets make her excited. Kirsty’s drama practice is all about shining a light on unheard voices. She is founder and Associate Performer at Squelch, who was mentored by Speech Bubbles.
Since joining Speech Bubbles in 2021 with her silly, bird puppet, Rainbow, she has relished in igniting the imaginations of her Speech Bubbles groups and helping other Speech Bubbles practitioner’s grow. It has been a privilege to share the Speech Bubbles ethos to education and drama practitioner’s alike in London and beyond.
Following an earlier career in acting and musical theatre, I feel lucky to have found a second love in Speech and Language Therapy. Both careers allowed me to pursue my passion developing communication skills, sharing stories, and making connections with people. My clinical specialism is using a total communication approach that incorporates storytelling and drama techniques. I'm currently Principal SALT, leading on Clinical Excellence and Creative Innovation, for a Multi Disciplinary Team Service working with children in schools across London. I was drawn to supporting Speech Bubbles as we are aligned in our passionate commitment to drama and storytelling as a powerful tool to develop children's speech, language and communication. For young people who struggle in this area, Speech Bubbles programmes has proven outcomes boosting self- esteem and confidence, creative thinking, social participation along with communication skills. I'm very excited to be part of their storytelling journey. Alongside my therapy work, I'm part of a large family who also enjoy music and performing. I love travelling, cooking, and soaking up London’s theatreland.
Read MoreLauren is a multidisciplinary creative, actor and theatre facilitator who is passionate about using storytelling to build connection and confidence.
With a deep commitment to community engagement and collaborative practice. She supports projects that amplify underrepresented voices and foster safe, joyful spaces for expression.
Read MoreThere is nothing like watching children tell stories with freedom, imagination and independence. That is what Speech Bubbles help them to do, and that is why I support them!
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