NOPA (Number One Performing Arts) is a community organisation based in Lambeth. Originally formed in 1991 NOPA aimed to provide the marginalised communities in Lambeth ways to express their stories and culture through the arts. NOPA soon found that the external and internal issues people were facing were preventing them from performing to their potential such as mental health, low self-esteem, trauma, housing issues, impact of crime (working with both ex-offenders, victims and families of both), substance misuse, poverty.
In its 30 years of existence, NOPA has worked with hundreds of people of all ages in the most marginalised communities. Through holiday schemes, events, performing arts, therapeutic services, school-based work and partnerships, they have provided a platform for people to explore their stories and feelings, develop coping strategies and find solutions, and to improve their relationships with themselves and others.
Throughout the years NOPA has engaged with hundreds of people from a wide cross-section of age and ethnicities. To improve social behaviour; confidence and self-esteem; we used the performing arts in the community; and creative therapies in schools.
NOPA changed its usual way of working to accommodate the challenges from Covid 19. At the start of the pandemic, 66 families were referred to us. Regular contact was maintained via phone and zoom.
We investigated the effects that lockdown was having on them. NOPA obtained funds from the WALCOT FOUNDATION and CITY BRIDGE TRUST to address their needs for a period of 3 months. This enabled us to supply support packages to the 66 families, and members of the wider school community.
This is a testimonial from a grateful recipient.
“I am very grateful for this service. I don’t know what I would have done without someone to help me through this. It was really good having someone to talk to when I feel down and all the help I got with the children. Also, the routine, I couldn’t have managed without the help. I was feeling like a terrible parent who can’t keep control of anything but know I feel I am not. I just needed some help. It was good to know I wasn’t the only parent having problems with getting children to do their schoolwork during the lockdown.”
Two surveys were conducted, at the beginning and end of the 3 month period, to determine their condition and improvement. The results are shown below.