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How we work
Our People
Membership of Stepping Out Theatre is open to all mental health service users and their allies. Involvement in any of our productions or activities confers membership. Our members are at the heart of what we do. We work with hundreds of people experiencing mental health problems, empowering them to connect with the arts and the wider community Read more about our member's stories and our impact here.
Since 1997, Stepping Out Theatre has employed hundreds of freelance artists and service user artists working on individual productions and has also employed core payroll staff since February 2005. These staff are employed to carry out the programme of work funded by grants from the Lloyds Bank Foundation, Henry Smith Charity and the People's Health Trust. Our core payroll team are -
Steve Hennessy - CEO
Elliot Hall - Music Projects Manager
Stepping Out Theatre became a registered charity on 12th February 2007. Stepping Out Theatre became a charitable incorporated organisation (1179310) on 24th July 2018.
AGM
The last AGM was held on Thursday 29th September 2022 on Zoom. There were 19 members attending. The following candidates were elected or endorsed as trustees. Trustees serve a three year period from their year of election.
Dr. Sue Chambers
Peter Cornell
Maria Falzetti
Jolene Foley (HR Lead)
Ravi Kullar (Treasurer)
Danann McAleer (Chair)
Wendy Murphy
Ian Robinson
Emma Stadon (Secretary)
Associate Artists
Stepping Out works more closely with a small number of artists to develop their careers in theatre. At the moment these are -
Chris Loveless - Associate Director
Garth Williams - Associate Artist
Mark Breckon - Associate Playwright
Lily Maryon - Associate Artist
Annual Reports
You can look at recent Annual Reports from Stepping Out Theatre, incorporating our Annual Accounts, by clicking on the links below.
Annual Report 2018 / 2019
Annual Report 2017 / 2018
Annual Report 2016 / 2017
Annual Report 2015 / 2016
Annual Report 2014 / 2015
Annual Report 2013 / 2014
Annual Report 2012 / 2013
Annual Report 2011 / 2012
Annual Report 2010 / 2011
Annual Report 2009 / 2010
Annual Report 2008 / 2009
There are a limited number of paper copies of these reports, and if you would prefer one of these, then CONTACT us.
Funding
We would like to thank all our funders for the support they give us making our work possible. Mounting high quality theatre productions, (some of them involving up to forty service users onstage, and many more in other roles), is an expensive business. The work of raising money for these productions, and for all the workshops and social activities that the group organises goes on constantly. If you would like to support the work of Stepping Out Theatre, you can donate to us directly using the DONATE button on the top of this page. Donating in this way means that Gift Aid can be claimed on donations, making them more valuable to the group.
Current funding
The Garfield Weston Foundation
A one year grant from The Garfield Weston Foundation will fund core costs and production costs throughout late 2021 and into 2022.
A one year grant from The Foyle Foundation will fund core costs and production costs throughout late 2021 and into 2022.
A one year grant from the Edward Gostling Foundation will fund emergency support for our members around the Covid pandemic throughout 2021 and into 2022.
The Society of Merchant Venturers
A one year grant from the Society of Merchant Venturers will fund emergency support for our members around the Covid pandemic throughout 2021 and into 2022.
A three year grant from the Henry Smith Charity will fund core costs and production costs up to February 2022.
A two year grant from the People's Health Trust will help fund a new Music Projects Manager post up to February 2022.
A three year grant from the Lloyds Bank Foundation will fund the Project Co-ordinator's post up until Feb 2022.
The Arts Council have regularly supported individual Stepping Out Theatre projects, from 'The Power of Speech' (2001) to 'Lullabies of Broadmoor' (2011) and the musical 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' (2014). In 2015, the Arts Council funded a record breaking four productions for the company - 'Anton's Shorts', 'The Bedminster Bigfoot', 'The Most Effective Drum' and 'The Divided Laing'. During 2017 - 18, the Arts Council funded a further four productions by the company, including Paul Mason's 'Divine Chaos of Starry Things' and an adaptation of Will Self's novel 'Great Apes'.
Music Theatre Bristol are a student theatre company from the University of Bristol. We are delighted that they have chosen Stepping Out Theatre as their chosen charity this year and they will be fundraising for us at all of their shows and at special charity events.
Previous funding
BIG were our largest and most important funder for 14 years with continuous funding from the Reaching Communities Fund from 2002 - 16 for core costs and salaried posts enabling the group to enjoy stability and continued growth throughout that period and right up to February 2016.
EF provided crucial core funding for the group over the period of June 2010 - June 2016 which saw continuous expansion in both activities and productions throughout that period.
For a five year period of 2011 - 16, Comic Relief was the biggest single funder of production costs for the company. In 2011, it funded a massive twelve week tour of the four linked 'Lullabies of Broadmoor' plays. In 2012 and 2013, it was the main funder for the large scale community plays 'Madhampton.co.uk' and 'Hermione Steel and the Island of Lost Minds', 'Wallace Real's Ministry of Madness' and 'The Square Wheel of Time'.
Along with the Big Lottery Fund, one of our most important funders. Steadfast support from Lankelly Chase helped the group first to survive, and then to grow and flourish for six years. Our first paid worker, the Development Worker (subsequently Project Co - ordinator) post was funded by the LankellyChase Foundation from 2007 - 13.
With the help of a grant from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, this post was upgraded to Project Co - ordinator in 2010 and this new post was funded by both foundations until 2013.
Additional work and productions are funded separately from other sources on a project by project basis. For instance, 'Waiting for Wilmot' (2009) and 'Lullabies of Broadmoor' (2011) were partly funded with the help of Awards for All grants.
Additional work over the period 2007 - 2009 at Fromeside Medium Secure Unit was funded by NESTA.
Ridge Property and Construction Consultants
The Bristol office of Ridge made Stepping Out Theatre one of their Charities of the Year. Money raised by their staff team helped us fund our core activities including our flagship activity, 'The Big Show'.
A three year grant from the John Ellerman Foundation funded core and production costs up to February 2020.
Contact
Stepping Out Theatre
13 Creedwell Orchard
Milverton
Taunton TA4 1JY
Registered Charity (CIO) 1179310 (since July 2018), Formerly Charity 1117912 (since February 2007)
e. info@steppingouttheatre.co.uk
m. 07790 980688
Current Sponsors
