A THEATRE company for people with learning disabilities has secured a major grant boost, giving the charity giving the charity much-needed financial security and the opportunity to extend its work more widely across Hampshire.

Well known locally in Winchester, Blue Apple Theatre has been awarded £243,750 over three years from the National Lottery Community Fund.

The funding will allow Blue Apple to develop new community partnerships and establish new groups across the county. The charity’s programme of drama, dance and singing classes will start to be extended from the autumn to other parts of Hampshire including Southampton, Basingstoke, Portsmouth and the New Forest.

There will also be a continuation of the online classes that have sustained performers throughout the lockdowns, plus a new youth group and regular summer school activities.

Blue Apple’s manager Simon Morris shared his reaction to the National Lottery Community Fund award: “This funding is especially welcome at a challenging time for arts charities. People with learning disabilities face many barriers to making friends and relationships in their local communities and this isolation has been made more acute during the pandemic.

“We welcome the opportunity to bring the joy of performance to a wider number of adults, encouraging them to embrace positive social experiences and pursue their artistic ambitions. While we will still need to depend heavily on the generosity of donors, this Lottery funding enables us plan ahead and offer our services more widely.”

The increase in confidence gained through stage performances has helped Blue Apple participants to enhance their social, personal and artistic skills and achieve public recognition for their talents.

While challenging perceptions and encouraging performers to break glass ceilings Blue Apple also aims to combat social isolation and promote wellbeing among its performers.

Blue Apple Main Company performer Kym Nash shared how much it means to him: “I can’t go without Blue Apple; it has become a huge part of my mental health and my life.”

Richard Conlon, artistic director, added: “The camaraderie and the challenge of learning lines and moves, as well as learning to work together, makes us all bring out our best selves.”

As the programme is rolled out Blue Apple aims to conduct more research that demonstrates its beneficial impact on health and wellbeing, communication skills, independence, friendship and social circles, integration and inclusion, employment and enterprise.