FAQs

• What are the sessions like?

Very relaxed. I laugh a lot. Whilst I am rigorous in my planning and thinking, I believe sessions need to be relaxed, joyful spaces where people can come as they are. There is no required language, or accent, or knowledge. Sit down, lie down, pace, breastfeed, wrangle small children, answer the door. Whilst I recommend you try to carve out this time to ensure you can give the sessions your full attention - both for yourself and your fellow cohort members - I recognise online life is not always that simple. We will all work around each other. Come as you are.

• What has Re-Inspire inspired people to do?

Past participants have told me they have: started new community arts projects, asked and gained promotions and/or pay rises, re-ignited a dormant creative practice, left a current job and found a new one, embarked on new studies, and created new peices of theatre. Those are the tangible, measurable ones. See below for more feedback.

• Can my organisation pay for me to attend?

Hells yes, organisations can sponsor cohort members. Send them my way.

• Do you have concession / solidarity prices?

I do. I cannot offer all places at this rate so please contact me to check I have availability. There will be no questions asked as to why you have requested this rate.

• The first INSPIRE was free. Why is this one not?

I really tried, friends. The first was generously funded by ACE, Stratford East, Donmar, Derby Theatre and The Lowry. I believe coaching, mentoring, community support, should be available to everyone, but despite the incredible outcomes from the first programme I couldn’t get funding again. So I have kept this one as low cost as possible.

• Can I just come to one workshop?

Not this time, this is a programme designed to take you on a journey, if you go on it I think you’ll reach somewhere joyful.

• I just want coaching, not a whole programme.

You can have it! Check out my coaching page and send me an email.

• If I miss a session, can I get a recording?

No. I will send you my plan, and notes for exercises for you to do at home, but when sessions are recorded it can be inhibiting / exposing for the participants attending, and during this programme people may share things quite personal to them, so after canvassing cohort members, I do not record sessions. This is a live programme.

• I am neurodivergent and/or disabled can I join?

Of course. I would never claim to be an expert on coaching for ND people but the majority of my clients are disabled and/or neurodivergent and I do my very best to meet everyone’s access needs to make the sessions the most useful, and joyful, they can be. I also have a lot of experience with neurodivergence personally. Please contact me to discuss your needs.

• Is the course anti-racist, anti-ableist, feminist and intersectional?

Yes. At least, I hope so. I am always learning, and I might make mistakes, I hope my cohort members would hold me gracefully to account if I do. It does not set out to address these issues, however, you would need specialist trainers for that which I do not pretend to be.

• Why is it women / NB people only?

Whilst it is patently obvious that men also need a space such as this one, the way that patriarchy and capitalism are enacted upon women and non-binary people is different to the way they are enacted on cis men, and RE-INSPIRE is a space in which that can be unspoken (or spoken) for the cohort members. The first INSPIRE and subsequent RE-INSPIRE were the same and in the feedback it was clear that this was very important. My practice is feminist, and creating this space is a part of that.

• But will you ever do one including men?

I dunno, maybe.

• Is this just a panacea for our capitalist, neo-liberal society though?

No. This is not offering you a way to switch off from your activism, your politics, your desire to create change, it is hopefully a way to enable you to live more healthily with all of those things. We live in a capitalist society and that is hard. I don’t pretend to have all the answers as to how we do that whilst fighting it, but we can try together.

• I am not sure if I am arty enough, I work in a charity, can I join?

If you think you are, you probably are, and I am not about to check your credentials. The reason I have tried to make it broad, but also a little focussed, is because I think having a group with shared language and struggles is useful and galvanising, and helps to create meaningful community. It is open to people of all artistic disciplines and to salaried workers in this area, and to people working in charities who use creativity - or would like to - in their jobs. But if you are worried, get in touch, we can have a chat.

• Is it just for freelancers? Or senior leaders?

It’s for everyone. Freelancers, makers, artistic directors, executive producers… There aren’t many spaces in this hierarchical industry where people from all parts of the sector can meet openly and honestly. That’s a part of what I wanted to create. I have had ADs of community arts companies, senior producers, artists, project managers and the rest, together on this programme. This is a course where we create community at the same time as talking about it.

• How many people are on the course?

I limit the numbers to 12. That way we have a group small enough to hear from everyone and big enough that we can have small groups, and the room feels ok if people can’t make a session. Please note that if f I do not reach at least 8 members the course will not run and you will be refunded, or you can sign on for the next one.

• You haven’t answered my question.

No problem, get in touch on the email address below and I’ll do my best to help you.

• How do I sign up?

Email me HERE if you have any queries or to book your place.