CHANGE LIVES
Chair’s Letter WE’RE PROUD TO MAKE PLAYS AND CHANGE LIVES
wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people in Surrey. This is a new service, which came into effect on 1 April 2021, specifically designed to prevent the development of wellbeing issues and spot them early on when they do emerge.
We are also immensely proud that, in our We will all remember 2020/21 as a year when 15th year, Peer Productions now has a young people were amongst those worst dedicated home in Woking, Peer Place. Our impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and move at the end of summer 2021 opens up I am immensely proud of the work which a vast array of exciting possibilities for the Peer Productions undertook in this period to future which we will be developing further in support all our beneficiaries – from our actors the coming year. on the Peer Actor Development programme We hope this annual report helps you better whose experience oscillated through the year understand who we are and what we do, as from in person training to training fully by well as showcasing some of the highlights Zoom, to the young viewers of our work and from this year. Despite the global challenges, participants in our outreach projects who all during 2020/21 our financial position was found themselves trapped in a world of online broadly maintained as we delivered new learning from home, and for whom, we at and innovative digital projects and delivered Peer pivoted to support with digital offerings. those core projects which we were still able We were acutely aware of the challenges to do - our total net asset position remained and difficulties to wellbeing through such healthy and we were able to maintain (in fact isolation and we strove to play our part in slightly improve) our reserves. providing support. We can only do what we do thanks to the I would like to pay testament to the ingenuity generosity of those who support us, so however and hardwork of our staff and young you helped Peer Productions during this volunteers who worked tirelessly, constantly year, thank you. On a personal note, I want to innovating and learning new techniques to extend my thanks to Peer Productions’ Artistic bring Digital Hidden to life using just 6 iPhone Director, Nina Lemon and Managing Director, cameras, to make Digital Generation Girls Ed Simpson, my fellow trustees, the staff of Peer a reality for our outreach participants and Productions and our young peer educators for to film series 2 of our Online mini-series 50 their incredible hard work which allowed the Days: Alone Together. I couldn’t be prouder charity to evolve ever further in this year. that the Children and Young People Now With gratitude to all our funders & Awards recognised this hardwork and supporters. impactful creativity, with Generation Girls winning the The Young Relationship Award and Digital Hidden being shortlisted for the PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) Award. We also worked tenaciously this year to become a founding member of the new Surrey Wellbeing Partnership - a new alliance of providers changing the face of emotional
Best wishes,
MELANIE LAITHWAITE Chair of the Board
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