'Raised Voices' is Arc Theatre’s new female leadership/peer mentoring project – our latest to be funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation (following on from 'Finding the Words' and Home Office-funded 'Girls Have Their Say') and supported by the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. Running for three years from 2013-16, whilst improving confidence and self-esteem, learning leadership techniques and developing speaking and listening skills, our group of young female participants from the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, has been working on a powerful new issue-based film resource, leading to a comprehensive tour to local schools, youth centres and professional platforms.
For this project, they have decided to tackle some of the hardest-hitting issues affecting young women today, including self-harm, sexual exploitation, domestic violence and female genital mutilation. They wanted to start new conversations on the subjects that even adults are sometimes too nervous to talk about, and they are passionate about getting their voices heard!