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 response to this need, NOPA developed holistic counselling, providing therapy and practical support to enable members to overcome the obstacles they faced. This therapy was made accessible alongside the performing arts activity in communities that mental health was often stigmatised or ignored.
This produced outstanding results, with people’s performances becoming powerful, their personal and professional goals being met and their focus and determination increasing.
NOPA has responded to a variety of social needs within the community throughout their work with projects in the past that focused on specific groups of people who were under served and becoming more disadvantaged. For example, they identified a need for fathers and their children to have time to connect and developed a project to share experiences and activities that improved relationships and quality time.
NOPA has provided good quality projects for young people during holidays, their performing arts tutoring has been part of Adult Education schemes. NOPA completed a partnership project with the Royal Maudsley Hospital Mental Health Team and RAW music using Performing Arts to allow self-expression which culminated in an event in the Ritzy Cinema. They have worked in partnerships with Old people’s homes to provide activities to reduce isolation, stimulate and improve mental health.
In 2009, NOPA began to deliver a Holistic Creative Therapy service in Fenstanton Primary School (Abbots Park, London SW2 3PW). NOPA built upon previous support offered and created an action research project using creative therapies such as play, drama and art therapy that proved to have a great impact on the children, their parents, and the school as a whole. Since then they have developed their methodology and service and have had to respond to greater and more complex needs being presented as the economic hardship and austerity cuts has affected families and public services. These additional services were created to respond to issues such as domestic violence, poor housing, overcrowding and poverty.
In its 30 years of existence, NOPA has worked with hundreds of people 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.
“NOPA was very helpful; my daughter has been more confident at school. She now talks through her problems with me and throughout the pandemic they always contact me to see if I needed any help with whatever necessary, thank you.”
Music Extravaganza – In 1995, NOPA show cased a successful performance at the Battersea Arts centre in South London. This was well attended by over 800 people including celebrities and dignitaries from London boroughs.
Christmas Gospel Show – In 1995, NOPA both organized and put on a Christmas gospel show which brought in members of the community from different ethnic backgrounds and multiple faith groups across Lambeth, to perform for the Mayor’s charity.
Recognition – In 1995, NOPA was awarded by the Mayor of Lambeth for their community work.
Performance at Lambeth Town hall – NOPA choir performed at the Lambeth Town hall on the 18th December 1996, for Mentorn films. The show was broadcast to millions of homes in 44 countries over the Christmas period.
Award Winning Sexual health workshop – In 2007 NOPA ran a 13-week sexual health workshop, educating teenage mothers on the topics of pregnancy and sexual health. A video of the workshop was created and screened to a capacity audience at the Oval conference centre on the 2nd April and NOPA was pleased to receive an achievement award for our efforts.
Lambeth Made Charter Mark Award 2021 for services to children and families in the community.