The pandemic has hit disadvantaged children hard, with many struggling to cope with the disruption to their learning and development as well as the additional challenges they face at home. This has had a huge impact on their mental health and their confidence. More recently, the cost of living crisis has further restricted the opportunities available to these children as parents struggle to put food on the table. Without additional support, the effects can become lifelong.

Through our large-scale puppetry projects, children aged 10-11 develop creative and life skills including confidence, resilience and communication. While building an entire complex marionette show from scratch, they develop self-belief and realise that they can do more than they think. Their new confidence and resilience impacts all areas of their lives, giving them the best chance to thrive at secondary school, and to fulfil their potential.