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2XL Youth Projects - Boxed

Project: Boxed

Region: Herefordshire

Amount approved: £21,265

This is a reworking of a project of the same name which Drinkaware funded in 2009. In line with 2XL’s approach to all their youth projects, they have taken all the strengths highlighted from the last Boxed initiative, not to mention key best practice points discussed at Drinkaware’s TiE forum in Summer 2010, and greatly enhanced the learning experience.

This is a piece of educational theatre which uses characters of different ages to illustrate the symptoms of drunkenness, peer pressure, altered behaviour when under the influence an the role drinking can play, both short and long-term, on friends and families. The box, which remains on stage throughout, is a particularly innovative tool as it not only acts as a hub when symptoms of alcohol misuse are played out, but also holds the truths and secrets behind the characters which explain why they behave in certain ways.

The addition of a domestic element to the plot was made possible by reducing the number of parts played by a small cast which has the further advantage of enabling the audience to engage far more with the themes instead of being distracted by a wide variety of characters. This was a key enhancement from the previous initiative.

More importantly, however, 2XL have chosen to run a series of workshops after the initial performances, instead of combining both into one session for each school. This is very different from the method used by most other funded TiE companies and could provide a valuable insight, both for Drinkaware and other grant recipients, into alternative approaches to this type of work. Each school is expected to receive five or six workshops which cover such issues as the attractions of drinking, its physical and emotional effects, health repercussions, the law and other local services.

This Awareness Projects grant will enable 2xL to offer the full package to a minimum of fourteen schools which will altogether lead to around eighty-five hours of engagement. Not only does this enhancement greatly increase value for money, but it increases the intensity of the education. Furthermore, the project takes place in the largely rural area of Herefordshire, the kind of region which is often unable to benefit from this kind of intervention.

All these points mean that Boxed also epitomises the aims of the grants programme by continuing to improve on ideas when a funded project comes to an end. Initiatives like this are far more likely to receive second grants by building on earlier achievements and ensuring every project has a legacy.

Page last updated by: Unknown, 10 May 2012.

Page checked on: 03 Dec 2010