Testimonials
“She was and is being bullied and this group gave her the confidence to speak up and stand up for herself.”
Parent
“This group helped her build her self confidence and was a tonic for her anxiety. The subject matters you have covered has helped her intellectually develop and has given her the power of voice and opinion.”
Parent
“Thank you so much for organising such amazing workshops last week. The children thoroughly enjoyed working with your staff and it linked perfectly to their topics.”
Arts Lead
“Our daughter has been attending Louise’s workshops for the last two years and the results have been amazing. Louise’s artistic flair and positive attitude to performing arts have reflected in such an amazing way that our daughter has just secured a place at the Brit School to study drama and film studies. Louise has incredible ability to draw out strengths, develop confidence, and mentor her students in an very positive way. We cannot thank Louise enough for all that she has done for our daughter.”
Parent
“I have been part of this incredible youth group of talented people for almost three years now. It is guided by a dedicated, knowledgeable and inspiring tutor – Louise Pendry; an amazing tutor with lots of great advice. Each week the sessions are deep, powerful and engaging. There is never a lost second. I’ve never experienced so much growth and fulfilment like I’m experiencing now. It’s incredible how I could grow this much in the last 3 years. I made it to The Brit School. I am going to study drama there from this September, year 10!!!
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you Louise, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”
“I have been part of this incredible youth group of talented people for almost three years now. It is guided by a dedicated, knowledgeable and inspiring tutor – Louise Pendry; an amazing tutor with lots of great advice. Each week the sessions are deep, powerful and engaging. There is never a lost second. I’ve never experienced so much growth and fulfilment like I’m experiencing now. It’s incredible how I could grow this much in the last 3 years. I made it to The Brit School. I am going to study drama there from this September, year 10!!!
Youth Theatre Participant
“Thank you for being a beacon of creative support to our youngsters.”
Parent
“Bounce doESn’t see borders – only possibilities. Bounce knows how to build up a broken soul, share its creativity with eager youths, and bring the arts and culture to life with all ages. that is why it is such a treat to work with bounce and the crew. Happy Birthday from the bottom of my heart! I look forward to many more years together!”
Freelance Artist and Bounce Collaborator
“The group is more than medication. It is healing.”
Turn Up Join In Participant
“Taking park in the Urban Art Stories project gave me the opportunity to venture across London, seeking out the footprints of street artists on urban landscapes. Visiting the Leake Street graffiti tunnel is a memory that I can never erase because experiencing the art physically opened my eyes to the many different social and political issues, visually conveyed on a blank canvas wall. Through this project I was able to develop essential skills such as decision-making and communication, as well as art-specific skills that include curation and basic graffiti techniques. Not to mention the fact I was even able to win a Jack Petchey award for outstanding achiever, which was absolutely amazing.”
“Taking park in the Urban Art Stories project gave me the opportunity to venture across London, seeking out the footprints of street artists on urban landscapes. Visiting the Leake Street graffiti tunnel is a memory that I can never erase because experiencing the art physically opened my eyes to the many different social and political issues, visually conveyed on a blank canvas wall. Through this project I was able to develop essential skills such as decision-making and communication, as well as art-specific skills that include curation and basic graffiti techniques. Not to mention the fact I was even able to win a Jack Petchey award for outstanding achiever, which was absolutely amazing.”
Former Hounslow Youth Theatre Participant
“Bounce is friendly, welcoming and a massively supportive company. It has and is continuing to build my own confidence and help me feel a sense of achievement. I’m motivated to reach my own goals and keep achieving. My daughter benefits hugely due to my attitude towards life!”
Project Participant
“I am a member of bounce theatre. It has been a really magical experience as me and my friends in the company have made some awesome products such as also being the Hello from home team. Bounce is a positive place that encourages you to take a leap of faith and it really does make such a good impact on my life. I want to thank bounce personally for really making lockdown less terrible and I highly encourage you to look at their work and have a great day.”
Youth Theatre Participant
“Before lockdown I was very conscious about my body and I get nervous about performing. But since I joined the Youth Theatre, I’ve felt more confident about myself. It’s given me a place to be myself and not to worry that people are looking at me.”
Youth Theatre Participant
“Bounce Theatre has shown a light on the gloominess.”
Youth Theatre Participant
“What I love about Bounce, what I like about the projects, is it allows me to try new things which I never thought I’d like, and it gives me more confidence to be myself and not to worry what people think of me. Since we started Bounce, it’s given me a chance to do the things I love and be excited about. The other thing, it’s given me a chance to be me and show me it’s okay to be yourself. So really, what I love about the projects is, well, everything!”
Youth Theatre Participant
“I discovered Bounce Theatre when they were presenting The Vagina Monologues and were looking for volunteer performers. It was local. A hop, skip and a jump down the 281. I emailed Bounce immediately. A friendly email returned and I was onboard. I was given a monologue. We had a rehearsal and the next day a performance. A few months later, Louise asked me if I’d run sound for Bounce’s Hounslow Youth Theatre. Those young people taught me patience. They honed my creativity. They showed me the power of the arts and how it could transform lives.
“Now back home in Michigan, I incorporate Bounce values and approaches in my dance classes here. I want to encourage and nurture my students’ creativity and curiosity, like we did when I worked with the youth theatre or on heritage projects. I say this with the greatest of love for Bounce Theatre, Louise, its facilitators and participants. You ruined me in a beautiful way. With that I express my deepest of gratitude!”
“Some of my memories from the youth theatre were the buzz we all felt before a show. Plus the excitement and freedom we had as young people doing something different to what others were doing. We were able to go out to different places like the Rose Theatre and to Central London for a number of things. We met people from all walks of life who we may not have met without the youth theatre.
“I loved the Creative Cafe and it gave me a real purpose. I think about the children everyday. I wish it were still going. I loved the community spirit and closeness we were able to bring and I enjoyed seeing how the children had fun when coming and how their lives were changing and the feel of the estate during the cafe.
“I am now at University studying physical education and youth sports with the hopes of eventually becoming a head teacher so that I can continue to have a positive influence and effect on children and young people.”
Former Hounslow Youth Theatre Member and our first paid trainee at Creative Cafe
“It’s helped to have somewhere accessible to go, where there are friendly people at the other end, a hot drink, and a meal.”
“It has made me come out and tell people my problems. That has helped my mental health. The two leaders of the group – I would give them 10 out of 10. I would do the group every year.”
Turn Up Join In Participant
“There isn’t enough happiness in the world at the moment. Coming to these sessions feels like heaven. I feel free to express my emotions, share my ideas and am open to everyone else’s thoughts. It is a safe and friendly environment. You couldn’t have made my life any better, because without it, I would be lost. Sometimes, throughout lockdown I felt like a boat sinking in the middle of a large, dangerous and endless ocean but the smiles from people on Zoom are contagious. This has changed my life, thank you.”
“I have become part of a tribe of people who also like the things I like and for me to feel free to be myself. If I didn’t have these sessions to come to, I feel like I wouldn’t be as confident as I am today.”
Youth Theatre Participant
“Joining in helped me realise my potential in drama and the arts industry. I had given up GCSE drama but after two months passed on the project, I realise what’s missing in my life…creativity. I missed discussing ideas and hearing peoples interpretation of styles of art. I realised how much enthusiasm I had for drama as before I knew it I was in a group debating how we should position ourselves for a performance!
“I went back to GCSE drama before the project had finished! Results day has gone past, ( 2 A*s and an A). At this point it was obvious what I was going to take further to sixth form…Drama! Combined with English literature and Sociology. Although it is a step up from GCSE, if it’s something you enjoy it really won’t matter. I always wonder what might have happened if I never worked with Bounce and if I never met Louise that gave me the encouragement to explore these creative subjects. I will forever be grateful.”