Young people take centre stage thanks to community funding boost

A local children’s theatre project brought festive cheer and new confidence to young performers in thanks to a community funding boost from Lampton Group that supported eight weeks of acting classes and a final pantomime performance.

Just under £1,000 was invested into a children’s theatre project based at Bedfont Lane Community Centre. The youth theatre provision was led by Terri Creaser and Hanane Dauki from Tale Be Told Theatre, a local arts organisation serving the community for ten years.

The funding enabled weekly acting sessions for local young people from Feltham and Bedfont of secondary school age including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), finishing with a Cinderella pantomime performance on 16 December.

The project gave young people the opportunity to develop communication skills, build confidence, and work together towards a shared goal, finishing with a live performance attended by friends and family.

Terri Creaser, who led the project, said:

“This whole initiative gave young people a real sense of confidence and belonging. For many of them, it was their first experience of performing in front of an audience and the progress they made over the eight weeks was incredible. The funding meant we could make the sessions accessible, inclusive and supportive, and end with a performance they could be genuinely proud of.”

The project was recommended through Aine Hayes, from the London Borough of Hounslow’s Third Sector Partnership Team and selected due to its strong focus on inclusion, wellbeing and positive outcomes for young people.

Aine Hayes, Third Sector Partnership Manager, said:

“Projects like this make a real difference to young people and families in the borough. This was a brilliant example of a small, community-led initiative having a big impact for young people who may not otherwise have access to creative opportunities.

“It’s great to see Lampton investing directly into projects that support confidence, inclusion and wellbeing.”

Alongside creative projects like this, the same community funding pot is also being used this winter to support residents facing cold weather and hardship. This includes funding 240 winter warm packs, which are being distributed through council-approved Warm Spaces across the borough. These Warm Spaces provide safe, heated environments for residents during colder months, while the warm packs offer practical support such as gloves, thermal blankets and hand warmers.

Carolyn Munns, Director of Repairs and Maintenance at Lampton, said:

“Our partnership with Travis Perkins allows us to go beyond delivering essential services and reinvest directly into the communities we serve. Through our Social Value Community Fund, we’re able to support projects that improve wellbeing, inclusion and resilience. Whether that’s giving young people the confidence to perform on stage or providing support for the most vulnerable during the winter months.”

Together, these initiatives reflect a wider commitment from Lampton to supporting local communities. From helping young people thrive through creative opportunities, to providing practical, immediate support for residents most affected by winter pressures.

Funding background
The funding comes from a Social Value Community Fund, made possible through a partnership with Travis Perkins. As part of the contract, funds are reinvested directly into local community projects each year to support initiatives that deliver meaningful local impact.

For media enquiries contact:  

Email: lamptongroup.comms@lamptongroup.co.uk

About Lampton Group: 

Lampton Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the London Borough of Hounslow, formed of three distinct brands. Lampton Homes provides a range of high-quality, affordable and social rent homes; Lampton Services delivers essential services through its Recycle, Greenspace and Residential Service arms; and Lampton Leisure manages the leisure provision across the borough.

About Tale Be Told Theatre:

Tale Be Told Theatre use interactive theatre as a tool to educate, inform and raise awareness of social issues. We often tackle the stories of people and communities in crisis, providing a platform for the human truth behind the often brutal statistics. Our work is shaped by and for communities and we strive to create experiences that are accessible to all, providing opportunities to engage with the arts to those that are disadvantaged in society.