Mentoring

We offer bespoke mentoring opportunities for individuals or companies who want to learn more about Bamboozle’s Approach to working with autistic and learning disabled young people, their families or schools.

We have over 30 years of experience in creating enabled spaces where young people can be heard, be authentically themselves and thrive. We have learnt from other organisations, artists and experts and want to share our knowledge to create more of these spaces and to reach more learning disabled and autistic young people.

Mentoring feedback:

We’ve been working with artists Pagan and Elena since they joined a training programme with us in 2024. From this training, they were inspired to start Flip the Switch, a research and development project that explores creative sensory experiences for learning disabled children and their families. Hear from them directly:

“As part of the development of the project, we have been working closely with Dawn Bowden from Bamboozle Theatre Company, building a mentoring relationship that has allowed us to share ideas, reflect on practice, and explore new ways of creating meaningful creative experiences for learning disabled children.

This collaboration grew out of the training delivered by Bamboozle as part of the Levelling Up for Culture programme. Through that training, we began exploring the growing need for more creative opportunities that are specifically designed with learning disabled children and their families in mind — spaces where exploration, communication, and creativity can happen in ways that feel accessible and welcoming.

Through the mentoring process, we have been able to think together about how creative sessions are shaped — from the pace and structure of activities to how music, sensory materials, limited language and interaction can support engagement. The conversations have been a chance to reflect on how environments can be created where children feel comfortable to explore at their own level, without pressure or expectation.

By bringing together practical delivery with the specialist expertise developed by Bamboozle over many years, the work continues to evolve in ways that respond to the needs of the children, families, and schools involved.

This shared learning is helping to shape not only the sessions happening now, but also how the project might grow in the future — supporting more opportunities for learning disabled children to access creative experiences that are joyful, inclusive, and meaningful in the North East of England.

We can’t thank Dawn enough for the love, support and care she has shown us through this process.”

How to get in touch

If you’re interested in mentoring opportunities with Bamboozle, please do get in touch with our Education & Training Project Manager Natalie by emailing natalie@bamboozletheatre.co.uk.

We will be able to tailor an offer suited to your needs and cost this up once we understand what you’re hoping to achieve.

Alternatively, take a look at our training courses here.