Thanks to funding from The Randal Foundation, Curve is delivering Shine, a groundbreaking new programme to support the mental health of young people.

Shine explores how drama techniques and activities can be used to provide strategies for coping with mental health and wellbeing issues. The work is delivered in Secondary schools in Leicester and is developed with advice and input from clinical psychologists from Sunrise Wellbeing and evaluated by academics from De Montfort University. The programme aims to shine a light on the role that the creative arts have in supporting the mental health of young people in schools.

Shine, whose Patrons are Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters, has already attracted national attention. In June 2026 Dame Rachel De Souza, the Children's Commissioner for England, visited the programme and commended its approach for "the space it gave the young people to speak, to be themselves, to try and fail and try again". Shine has also been referred to in the Houses of Parliament.

We are now looking for freelance creative drama practitioners with strong experience of developing and delivering drama-based workshops with young people (aged 12 - 18). It would be beneficial if practitioners have prior experience of working with young people facing mental health issues. Practitioners will plan sessions with support and input from the Creative Programmes team at Curve and our therapeutic partner, to facilitate weekly workshops over 8 weeks in school settings. The sessions run once a week for up to 2 hours and support around 15 students who have been referred to the programme by the school.

The successful applicant/s will need to be available for training and planning from w/c 5 January 2027 with delivery of the first 8-week programme starting in schools from w/c 18 January 2027.

This position is offered under a freelance agreement, with an rate of £42 per hour plus up to £20 travel contribution.