Author Archive KYDS

A Jack Petchey Achievement Award recognises the outstanding achievements of young people. This can include helping others, being a good role model, overcoming a challenge or breaking through a personal barrier. In KYDS, Jack Petchey Award Winners are chosen in an open nomination by the youth members, with no input from the Adult Team.

This November, Millie Sheldrick was chosen to receive a Jack Petchey Achievement Award by her fellow youth members. The award was then presented by past KYDS Jack Petchey Award Winners, Ellie, Olly and Lucy.

Some of the comments submitted about Millie during the nomination process are shown below:

• Millie has been extremely helpful to younger/newer members in their acting and has been very hard working. She has a very good attitude for KYDS and for the show.
• I think that Millie should be the winner because she’s tried really hard in KYDS recently and she is also a really good role model!
• Millie should win this because she has been helping some new people who have come into KYDS and has grown in confidence.
• I think Millie should win it because she has pushed her self with singing and dancing. Also her acting skills are getting better and better because she is working so hard!
• ​Because she has been with KYDS for ages and is always there like always able to step in but with this show this is her second comedy duo part and she is so good and puts in so much effort and always has so much energy I hope this helps as she deserves to win because of how funny she is and gets into character so well

Congratulations Millie on your achievement and on receiving this fantastic recognition from your fellow youth members!

KYDS is delighted to have received a generous donation from 3D MarComms for its upcoming production of Aladdin.

3D MarComms, whose Head Office is based in Heybridge, is a leading provider of Applicant Tracking Software (ATS). Their leading product, HARBOUR® ATS,  provides both the Candidate and the Recruiter with a better user experience, plus so much more.

​James Stocker, Chair of Trustees said:

“We are delighted to have the support of 3D MarComms who have chosen to generously support our work with young people and members of the community.”

“Without the support of companies like 3D MarComms, KYDS simply wouldn’t be the vibrant charity it is today.”

Les Turner (President of Kelvedon & District Rotary Club) James Stocker (Chair of Trustees of KYDS), Tracy Rudling (CEO of Colchester CVS and Colchester Rotarian), Eugene Kraft (President of Colchester Rotary Club)

KYDS is delighted to have received the support of two local Rotary Clubs, Kelvedon & District Rotary Club and Colchester Rotary Club.

At a recent meeting of the Kelvedon & District Club, KYDS Chair of Trustees James Stocker gave a presentation on the work that KYDS is doing in the community. In particular the presentation focussed on the achievements of the Society to date, as well as the Society’s ambitions and future challenges going forward.

Following the presentation, James received cheques, from the Presidents of both clubs, on behalf of KYDS.

The funds received will be used to make a number of capital purchases, as well as establishing designated training and workshop funds.
James said: “Without the support of local organisations like rotary, KYDS simply wouldn’t be able to continue its work in the community”
“We are very grateful to both clubs for their generosity and look forward to continuing a mutually beneficial partnership going forward”.

The North Essex Theatre Guild (NETG) has released the nominations for its 2016 Awards Ceremony and KYDS is delighted to have received a high number of nominations once again for its 2015 Pantomime, Cinderella, and our recent performance of The Little Mermaid in Summer 2016.

The nominations are as follows:

Cinderella
Nominated for the King Costume Award

The Little Mermaid
Nominated for the King Costume Award

The Little Mermaid
Nominated for the Jean Jones Award for set design / construction / dressing etc.

Millie Sheldrick and Grace Upton
Nominated for the Adjudicator’s Award
For their performance as Bodgett and Leggett in Cinderella

Charlie Warner
Nominated Best Young Actor
For his performance as Flounder in The Little Mermaid

Grace Upton
Nominated Best Young Actress
For her performance as Ariel in The Little Mermaid

Tom Nicoll
Nominated Best Dame
For his performance as Grizelda in Cinderella

The Little Mermaid
Nominated for the Collyer-Smith Trophy for Best Musical

Cinderella
Nominated for the Eric Dyster Cup for Best Pantomime

Cinderella
Nominated for The Terry Sadler Award for Front of House

The full list of nominations can be found on the NETG website.

Congratulations to everyone involved in both productions. We look forward to the awards ceremony which will take place on Friday 9 September in Clacton.

Ray Banks, President of KYDS, once again presented the President’s Highest Achiever Award at the KYDS BBQ and after show party on Sunday 3rd July.

Ray personally chooses the winner of the award, after observing the rehearsal process for each KYDS production and identifying who, in his opinion, has achieved the most throughout the rehearsal process.

Ben Collins, who played Prince Eric, was chosen as the President’s Highest Achiever for the Society’s most recent production of The Little Mermaid. Ray said:

“I considered Ben to be the Highest Achiever this time for the extra level he managed to achieve for his performance. Ben’s singing hit a new high – better than he has ever done before. Also the overall quality of his acting was elevated to new heights. He well deserved the award.”

Congratulations Ben on your achievement!

KYDS is delighted to have received a £500 grant from Grassroots Charity.

Grassroots is a registered charity which has been operating since 1991, specialising in making small grants to voluntary and community organisations involved in social welfare in North East Essex.

The £500 awarded to KYDS was given to help the Society meet its venue hire costs, which is the biggest expenditure for KYDS.

James Stocker, Chair of Trustees, said “We are extremely grateful to Grassroots Charity for their generous donation. This money will help us to meet our venue hire costs and continue our important work in the community, including our regular meetings twice a week with young people”.

Lord Petre, Lord Lieutenant of Essex (L) presenting the cheque to Bill Sheldon, KYDS Fundraising Officer (R).

KYDS would like to congratulate Ellie Russell and Olly Smith who were both chosen to receive Jack Petchey awards in June 2016!

Both Ellie and Olly were chosen by the KYDS youth members through an open nomination process. James Stocker, Chair of Trustees and Jack Petchey Coordinator for KYDS said “The wonderful thing about this process is that it is entirely led by our youth members. There is no input at all from the adult members, this is a way for youth members to recognise and congratulate their peers. Well done Ellie and Olly for being chosen by their fellow members as winners this time round!”.

Some of the comments submitted by youth members about Ellie and Olly are below:

Ellie Russell

“Ellie has always made me feel welcome to KYDS and has always encouraged me to try my best”, “She is very good at her part and very kind to other members of KYDS” “Ellie has shown great determination and commitment in order to perfect every part of her Ursula character”

Olly Smith

“Olly has improved greatly with both his confidence and ability this show, whilst also putting a great amount of effort into everything he does with KYDS!” “He is always trying hard and ready to work, always got a smile and happy to help anyone out when needed!” “Olly has improved greatly with both his confidence and ability this show, whilst also putting a great amount of effort into everything he does with KYDS!”

This week, KYDS is celebrating Small Charity Week and the excellent work that small charities like ours do.

We are proud of the work that KYDS is doing in Tiptree and the surrounding areas of Essex. Since 2009, we have been working with young people to help them develop a range of transferable skills through singing, acting and dance workshops. Our regular public performances provide audiences with accessible, value-for-money, arts productions and we are delighted that our audiences continue to grow year-on-year.

Since registering as a charity in November 2014, we have renewed our commitment to growing and building our work, as outlined in our 2020 Strategy. Working with members of the community, organisations, companies and charities, we know that we can achieve even more.

We would like to thank our many supporters for their continued support of our charity. We’re looking forward to achieving even more with your help.

For more information about how you can support our charity, please email hello@kyds.org.uk

KYDS is delighted to announce that it has won an award at the recent NODA East Awards Ceremony, held on the 3rd April 2016.

The Society’s production of Cinderella was named ‘Best Pantomime’ for the season in District 8. Director of the Production and Artistic Director of KYDS, Alexandra Berriman collected the award.

This is the second year in a row that KYDS has been nominated for the Best Pantomime award. The Society’s production of Dick Whittington was named Best Youth Production in District 8 last year, after narrowly missing out on the Best Pantomime prize.

Congratulations to everyone involved!