v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v 19th February 2026 • The HERALD • Page 67 ASK A PROFESSIONAL YATES & CO Chartered Accountants Specialists in providing accounting and taxation advice to small businesses and individuals Contact: Colin Yates A.C.A. Telephone: (023) 8086 1550 E-mail: enquiries@yatesco.co.uk Personal and Friendly Service Mayflower Launches New Schools Partnership Mayflower is excited to announce a transformative new programme that will deliver outstanding theatre opportunities directly into schools and community hubs across Southampton. In partnership with Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill, Redbridge Community School, and St. Patrick’s Primary School, May ower is expanding its youth strategy to reach more young people and families than ever before - particularly those facing barriers to attending theatre venues. e St. Patrick’s School initiative is in collaboration with Southampton & IOW Music, a growing partnership of local, regional and national organisations, working together to build an inspiring and inclusive programme of music making that re ects the cultural diversity of our areas. Having reviewed its youth engagement strategy, May ower is committed to creating deeper, more meaningful impact across all Southampton communities. By embedding arts activity within schools themselves, the programme removes barriers, builds con dence, and opens the door to the life-changing power of musical theatre. Across all three schools, students will benefit from a shared core o er, including: • Regular musical theatre workshops led by professional artists and practitioners • Performance opportunities both in-school and at May ower venues • Production arts and backstage pathways, giving students hands-on technical experience • Theatre visits for students (and in many cases, their families) with subsidised or free travel • Creative learning activities supporting curriculum aims, cultural capital, and arts progression • Clear pathways into Mayflower’s wider youth participation programmes • Opportunities to meet industry professionals and learn about careers in the arts This unified offer ensures that more young people regardless of background, postcode, or prior experience can participate, progress, and feel part of Southampton’s vibrant cultural life. While each school receives the same core programme, individual partnerships include unique elements shaped around the needs of their communities. Teachers will receive specialist training with one becoming the production’s musical director and students will help shape the arts o er through a new Ministry of the Arts. All pupils will also enjoy theatre trips with free travel. “We’re committed to making the arts accessible to all communities,” said Patrick O’Sullivan, Head of Participation at May ower. “Bringing our work into schools ensures young people can experience the transformative power of live performance.” These partnerships re ect a shared mission between May ower and the schools: • To promote access to the arts for all young people • To nurture the next generation of theatre makers, audiences, and leaders • To strengthen the cultural fabric of Southampton through education and community collaboration e initial partnership period runs until July, with all organisations committed to reviewing impact and exploring expansion across more schools in the future. Matilda (Credit: Robert Longford Photography)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=