We are now in our 3rd year of our Festival Friday programme which provides creative learning intervention for pupils from eight local primary schools across the Chichester district who may be struggling to engage with learning or with formal education. 


Festival Fridays supports young people in year 5 (age 9-10 years) by offering inspiring experiences, ideas sharing and decision-making opportunities offered through creative activities that aim to re-engage a joy for learning, helping to prepare them for the transition to secondary education at age 11. Each student participating in the Festival Friday’s programme will receive 20% of their year 5 education here at the Chichester Festival Theatre.


The young people who attend will benefit from a wide breadth of learning with a focus on supporting literacy, social development, self-esteem and confidence through a range of creative activities including storytelling, role play, improvisation, working with text, puppetry, prop-making, costume design and movement.


The FF programme encourages pupils to develop their own voice, enjoy positive relationships with peers, work collaboratively as a team member, grow trust and mutual respect, alongside a deeper, more positive relationship with learning. 

We are now in our 3rd year of our Festival Friday programme which provides creative learning intervention for pupils from eight local primary schools across the Chichester district who may be struggling to engage with learning or with formal education. 


Festival Fridays supports young people in year 5 (age 9-10 years) by offering inspiring experiences, ideas sharing and decision-making opportunities offered through creative activities that aim to re-engage a joy for learning, helping to prepare them for the transition to secondary education at age 11. Each student participating in the Festival Friday’s programme will receive 20% of their year 5 education here at the Chichester Festival Theatre.


The young people who attend will benefit from a wide breadth of learning with a focus on supporting literacy, social development, self-esteem and confidence through a range of creative activities including storytelling, role play, improvisation, working with text, puppetry, prop-making, costume design and movement.

Thank you so much to UK Harvest for providing our Festival Friday participants with a free breakfast they get to share together every Friday morning. This is a great time each week for the students to catch up with each other and form stronger bonds and friendships.


UK Harvest is a not-for-profit perishable food rescue operation and education charity, eliminating hunger and food waste by:


  • Redistribution of quality excess food
  • Providing education
  • Engagement with communities
  • Inspiring innovation


We provide much-needed assistance to charities and vulnerable people, by collecting surplus food from all types of food providers, delivering it directly to charities. We help nurture those most food insecure, to live well, age well and to help combat social isolation, through our education on reducing food waste and eating healthily.

Comments from parents

“You have transformed my child’s life. I know how important this has been for them, and I will forever be thankful. You have no idea what it has done for them at home, school, and with making new friends. I wish everyone could do this.”

"This has been the highlight of their week and has indeed been a life changing experience. Providing this holistic approach to learning and creativity is a unique gift that would be of benefit to so many more children and hopefully will continue. Thank you so much for the incredible opportunities through Festival Fridays."

“I must tell you how fortunate we feel to have had the opportunity of Festival Fridays. These sessions have given our child a real sense of connection and an outlet for creativity. As the weeks have passed, I have watched them become increasingly engaged in the theatre workshops and find a new social independence as their confidence grows.” 

"It has been really good to have such positive male role models for the boys and girls... sadly life doesn’t always bring this to their lives. Although confident in some areas, my child was a nervous wreck in class assemblies, speaking alone, and similar events in Year 4, and now what a transformation!!"

Comments from teachers

‘We identified the children who were going to take part in the project as those who would really benefit from an opportunity like this. For example, one has an EHCP for ADHD and this was discovered during Year 3. They try incredibly hard with learning but are significantly behind in all areas that require them to write and record any responses. They are incredibly articulate and have a brilliant mind – particularly for science and technical areas of the curriculum. They find learning hard, and a busy classroom can be a very difficult place for them to navigate. We knew we wanted to provide an opportunity for them to build self-esteem and belief in themselves, and when this opportunity came along it seemed to be perfect!’

“THANK YOU SO MUCH for allowing us as a school to be involved in this project. We really value it, and it has made a tremendous difference to all the children who have been involved. I think they are incredibly lucky to have had such a wonderful opportunity!’” 

“‘Pupils haven’t faltered from wanting to attend the sessions, and haven’t ever said they don’t want to go! They talk about friends made through the project and very happily indeed about the experiences there.” 

"Everyone in school was very pleased that they were shining brightly in experiences at the theatre. They came back each Monday and were happy to share with us what was happening. They have now got a secure group of friends in school who they are able to connect with and spend time with at break."

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