This summer I have had to make some important decisions about the future of Threefold. I have decided to pause the delivery of our sessions for one academic year and reopen in September 2024 when I am able to give myself fully to this project with the right energy and resources. 

This is due, in part to the current financial climate to secure funding. Bristol Arts Cultural fund having been delayed from 12 to 24 months and changes in priorities from the Arts council which has made funding for emerging companies and development work extremely difficult.  I am also 3 months into being a new parent for the third time and continuing to run a third year working unpaid and with considerable caring responsibility at home, does not make sense on a personal level. 

I love this work, the families we work with and all the young people involved. I can see the impact it has made in the short time it has been in operation. We are needed. The demand is there, we have around 45 families currently involved and around 20-30 more on the waiting list eager to join.  But we do not have the capacity to deliver... Yet.  Threefold is at a pivotal moment. It’s time to regather, strengthen and do this properly. As Amy said, it’s time to go big or go home. 

It has not been an easy decision. I've thought a lot about our values in the making of this decision. 

Commitment to Threefold means setting it up not on a shoe string but giving it what I know it needs to succeed and honouring our vision for long term provision for our young people. 

Collaboration. We need more heads and hands. We have attracted an incredible host of artists and facilitators that are keen to get involved and be part of our team. We need funds to properly look after the team. I want this to be the best job they’ve ever had.

Courage in this instance is trusting in the power pause. Trusting that pause does not mean to stop or fizzle out. That we will come back in a bigger, more stable and reliable way and build a company and ethos that will continue beyond my involvement. 

Thank you so much for everyone who has been involved so far for your support, for trusting us with your incredible young person. I hope that when we reopen there may be a few familiar faces returning to us but in the meanwhile If your young person is eager to continue with a drama group I would recommend checking out the Bristol Old Vic Young Company or Travelling Light’s youth theatre, both provide free places for families who need it.

Whether you have been a regular member or on the waiting list we will of course keep you updated with how things are going over the course of the year. If you have any feedback or testimonies to send to us please do, this will help in gathering a picture of our impact. 

I will miss the buzz of Thursday afternoons at the community centre and the faces we have seen every week! But now we have work to do, meetings to discuss partnerships lined up and funding applications to get on with and I'm sure with this power pause we can establish this incredible work we have begun in a way that will be sustainable going forwards. 

Alice