Resources for Youth and their Families

18 Mar Resources for Youth and their Families

Physical and Creative resources for all ages

At Mimbre, we’ve been busy compiling and researching information, brainstorming ways you and your family can keep physically and creatively active during this time of the Coronavirus.
These resources are regularly updated, so check back in. Please note, user discretion is advised, the links will take you off the Mimbre website. If you see something useful that you think we should add please drop a line to info@mimbre.co.uk or tag us on social media, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Please check the age recommendation for each link before sharing with young children; some show links are for over 13 or over 15 as they deal with complicated themes. For activities definitely suitable for younger children please go to our post on physical and creative things kids can do on their own.

We last updated this post on 9th June 2020 and it is no longer being maintained.

Physical and creative resources for youth and their families

Keep Your Body Moving, Virtual Circus, Fitness & Dance Workouts:

+ We’ve made our Mimbre Youth Acrobatics sessions available online, so if you want to brush up on your acro skills come join us. Or, better yet, you can sign up to our weekly interactive Youth Programme Zoom classes here. (Youtube: This is an acrobatics playlist with sections of different acrobatic tricks. It starts with a dance warm-up, then an acro warm-up, to get you ready for all the fun exercises and poses we will work on.)
+ You could also join our wonderful Youth Programme teacher, Natasha Khamjani for a Family Street Dance Battle challenge as the weather warms up. Natasha has created a great choreography that you can easily take out outside (if it is safe to in your area) to show off your dance skills with. If you live somewhere where it is possible you could even invite your neighbours to join, just make sure you do this while socially distancing, a good idea is to draw out a line every five metres just for safe measure. (Youtube)
+ Stokey Yoga offers pay-what-you-can yoga classes for different ages. As well as a range of styles to suit different needs, such as Vinyasa Flow, Slowflow, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Yoga for Teenagers.
+ Rambert‘s pay what you can dance classes for all ages and different levels
+ Family Dance Workshops hosted by Sadler’s Wells’ Learning & Engagement team, created for families with younger children now unable to attend nursery or school. (Youtube)
+ Hoxton Hall have a timetable of online activities. You can choose from dance classes and craft workshops. On Mondays you can get active with On Beat Dance and on Wednesdays unleash your inner-artist with Making sessions
+ #StayInWorkOut, London Youth’s response to supporting young people’s physical and mental wellbeing. This is a weekly activity calendar featuring five daily week-day sessions and three weekend sessions
+ Free Handstand Programme from Jonathan Last
+ Yoga with Adrienne (YouTube)
+ Born to Move free content by Les Mills (Scroll past the sign-up for a free trial and you’ll see the free content on offer)
+ 30 Day Handstand challenge from Natalie Reckert
+ 20 Black Yoga Teachers with Online Classes in 2020 by the Yoga Green Book
+ Pay What You Can donation-based classes run by Rebecca Rennison, one of the inspiring and talented The Exploded Circus performers. Mon, Weds, Fri 11am: Workout for all levels (Cardio, Glutes, Abs, Upper Body Strength). Tues, Thurs 11am: 1-hour long and can join via Zoom.com. Email Rebecca on rerennison@gmail.com for Zoom link and password. Suggested donations for people able to are £1.00 via Paypal to rerennison@gmail.com
+ Our colleagues Scarabeus are offering adult dynamic yoga classes via Zoom on Wednesdays 6.45-8.00pm (donations welcome, contact daniela@scarabeus.co.uk) and ‘Take Flight’ conditioning and flexibility classes for teenagers on Wednesdays 5.00-6.00pm (contact soren@scarabeus.co.uk)
+ For those of you who want a workout challenge: Uptown Funk Abs workout at Gymtastics Gym Club
+ Jane Fonda’s 1982 workout for beginners, a classic (YouTube)
+ Cindy Crawford Shape Your Body Workout, for more nostalgia (YouTube)

And for even more shared fun for (this one definitely needs to be checked on by parents to see if these are appropriate for you): There is a wide selection of online at-home parties being organised across Facebook and Instagram, some people you follow might already be hosting live dance sessions. This relies so much on your individual taste and how old your young ones are (please bear this in mind when joining any online dance party), but here are a few to get you started: How about a Saturday party with the Quarantine Queens? I’m stuck at home but still want to have fun on Facebook has organised a few ‘Thank stuck it’s Friday’ parties, which were really fun, so keep an eye out on their events too. Or live Instagram Dance Classes with AccessToSports?

Other Creative, Educational and Circus Related Activites

+New Creatives is a national talent development scheme that will nurture and showcase new emerging creative voices. Screen South has 100 commissions to give out across Film, Audio and Interactive spanning 4 calls in 2 years. They are currently in their final call for Film & Audio. (Age requirements: 16-30, Deadline: 5pm, Monday 6th July 2020 )
+ A Mighty Girl is an online store dedicated to making empowering and inspirational books and toys available to young girls. They have complied lists of books they have on offer that we thought you might like: 50 Inspiring Books on Girls and Women of the Civil Rights Movement and Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Girls & Women Who Fought for Change
+#PlayDates by National Theatre of Scotland, in association with Starcatchers and Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, offers a whole range of exciting creative activities. From sessions on how to make your own stop motion film, to creating and telling your own stories, making a show in your house, to magical Unicorn Dance Parties, these activities are open to many levels and ages.
+ Thingumajig Theatre is providing a series of free making tutorials through Facebook.
+ Company Chameleon offers dance classes for different ages as well as performances to watch.
+ The Hackney Youth Opportunity Fund is a grant scheme created by Young Hackney to encourage young people to be innovative with their ideas and create projects for themselves and other young people. Young people have the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £1,500 to fund a project or activity to support other young people during lockdown. Have a look at their website to find out more and apply.
+ Young Hackney‘s Online Youth Hub has activities for age 6-12 Juniors and 13-19 Seniors. You can also head over to their Youtube channel for more ideas.
+ Crips Without Constraints. A digital programme designed to celebrate D/deaf and disabled artists by our friends, Graeae, a disabled-led theatre company.
+ Immediate Theatre have developed a fantastic series of online workshops, tailored to different age groups ranging from ages 5-25 (inclusive of SEND), as well as a great selection of activities and games.
+ Kids Labs: Edinburgh Science Festival weent online this year. There are still a host of fun and educational workshops and activities to do with children in their Kids Labs.
+ Over the next few months The Remix, Activate Performing Arts, will be posting online sessions for everyone to take part in. Led by their Artistic Directors, Aimee Hobbs and Amy Eastwood, the sessions are open to everyone (including mums, dads and carers!). Remix is an integrated youth performance company open to young people age 13-19 both disabled and non-disabled from across the county.
+ Circomedia have made a fantastic Youth Circus Home Edition resource kit for you, with new videos Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Skills, games, tricks, stretches, exercises – all things that you can do without having to leave the house. With circus tutorials from acrobalance to face painting, their fun videos will definitely bring a smile to your face and explore new tricks and ones you’ve already mastered.
+ A sign-up form to receive emails with creative games and tasks from the Yard Theatre
+ Creativity Moves to the Home, Resources from Emergency Exit Arts (currently still in progress, but will offer a variety of workshops, creative participatory activities and artistic exercises)
+ Anna and Arji’s Broom Cupboard, as shared by our good friend Daryl Beeton: this is 5 minute TV show where we share interactive playful art activities, stories, poems for kids & games for the whole family to play at home. Episodes released on Thursdays. (Youtube)
+ Little Angel Theatre are offering an exciting and varied collection of puppetry-related creative activities. They also offer a daily storytime.
+ 48hr ISOLATION Film Challenge – Make a short film in your homes up to 3 minutes long in 48 hrs, open to everyone.
+ Take a Virtual Tour around 12 famous museums
+ 100 things to do Indoors by spreadthehappiness.co.uk
+ Creative Quarantine, a daily email of creative activities and adventures for people young and old to do in their own home.
+ Free (and donation-based) Digital Circus Training / Resources from Kevin Wratten of the Roundhouse (for various ages, levels of fitness and ability)

Arts and Crafts

+ KIDS CLASS: Painting Trees and Birds. Our friends over at the London Drawing Group are holding Drawing Classes for youth who want to explore how to paint textures and observe and draw the natural world around them, whether its inspiration from their local park, garden or just the shape of trees through the windows. (Donation-based, two dates available: Wednesday 3rd June or Monday 8th June)
+ Why not follow along with Puppet Animation Scotland on Youtube and try making Puppetry At Home. We recommend their video on How To Make A Crankie Toy Theatre, which is also a great inspiration for aspiring Set Designers. Let us know what your masterpieces look like.
+ Art at Home ideas, by educator Mrs. Velazquez Art
+ Tate’s 5 artsy activities to do at home, you can also follow Tate Kids on Twitter for more ideas.
+ The Pinterested Parent, is a hub of easy arts and crafts that allows you to use items you already have at home.
+ Creativity for Wellbeing by arts facilitator Richard Potter, features artistic exercises for all ages to enjoy, great for aspiring and professional artists.
+ Art Learning at Home by art teacher, Sarah Crowther

What to watch

+ Brighton Festival is revisiting some of its headline acts from across the years and streaming these for free.
+ The first ever WOW (Women of the World) Festival to take place online is happening now! Go to WOWxBBC Festival.
+ Storytime with The Strong Lady, Charmaine Childs reads the wonderful Paper Bag Princess, a story she loved as a child, with a strong female character who is not afraid to take on a dragon! (Facebook)
+ Netflips, a video rental service of independent circus productions from around the world. Check their Facebook page for more information
+ Streamed musicals and shows online by Official London Theatre
+ KEEPING CULTURE ALIVE! – Online Theatre Events Database (Google Sheets)
+ Cultural Digital Streams: Get some culture at home
+ Free Theatre Screenings (Google Sheets)
+ Every week Sadler’s Wells puts on their Digital Stage a new dance theatre production. This week it is BalletLORENT’s magical Rumpelstiltskin (Facebook)
+ For deaf young people #operationbslstorytime on Twitter has some lovely stories
+ A programme of free online content by the Royal Opera House
+ Fantabulosa Storytime, for 8 days one of the Fantabulosa family of Drag Queens, Kings and Things read a story via their Facebook page
+ The Story Sharer, a resource of storytellers sharing and reading stories (for various ages)
+ The Social Distancing Festival featuring Art from all over the world

Teenager Activities

+ Our friend Maiya Leeke is holding contemporary dance classes with Wildhawk Studios Thursdays, starting 11th June. Inclusive for all bodies & abilities, Maiya will lead this Contemporary Class from the floor and will encourage and invite translations for sitting and standing dancers and tiny spaces too!
+ Stokey Yoga offers pay-what-you-can yoga classes for different ages. As well as a range of styles to suit different needs, such as Vinyasa Flow, Slowflow, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Yoga for Teenagers.
+ Cookies, a film of the brilliant show Mimbre Youth Programme tutor, Natasha choreographed (YouTube, recommended age: over-13)
+ 10 University Art Classes You Can Take for Free Online
+ Couch to Handstand 30 DAY challenge by Natalie Reckert (YouTube)

Activities for Older People

+Acting Our Age: Flexer & Sandiland’s Online Movement Classes by South East Dance Company. These are online movement classes held every Wednesday from 27 May to 12 August. The sessions are designed for movers over the age of 55, but open to adults of all ages.
+ Homemade Circus, by Upswing using Circus skills as a basis to help you to keep active during this time
+ Company of Elders workshop series, by Sadler’s Wells’ Learning & Engagement team, is specially created for over 60s who may be staying at home due to social distancing
+ Elderly Isolation Workouts by Gabriella Pimentel, physiotherapist (YouTube)
+ Arts and creative resources for older people (and anyone else) in isolation by The Baring Foundation

Helpful Resources

+ For our Hackney based Youth, Hackney Council has a great hub helping youth understand current circumstances
+ Many libraries across the UK use Overdrive and Libby allowing you to borrow ebooks (you will need your library card to make an account).

Mental Wellbeing

+ Young Women’s Trust is supporting young women aged 18-30 with their service Work It Out – a free telephone and online coaching service supporting women with work, life and building strong mental health.
+ Kooth, a free online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, is accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop.

Follow these links to our other resources:

Physical and Creative Kids Activities

Resources on Getting Involved in Your Community

Resources for Artists and Creatives