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projects & productions

Sense of Community / Congress of Nations
Aug - Dec 1999
part of Making the Nation

Two ground-breaking key elements in TAG's Making the Nation project.

Sense of Community took place in 25 primary schools across Scotland, covering both urban and rural settings and engaged with young people from varied social and economic backgrounds. The heart of this project was a series of drama workshops through which children could engage in an imaginative way with issues and questions of relevance in the real world.

Each participating school received drama workshops, two days’ teacher training, a supporting teaching pack, access to a dedicated website and an invitation to the Congress of Nations. Two of the participating schools were special educational needs schools.

The emphasis of the workshops was the development of techniques in role-play and the exploration of the workings of a community through dramatic play. This structure allowed teachers to work through both the drama-related and political issues at the heart of the project. Teachers were supported through INSET covering both drama and use of the Internet and a Resource Pack in hard copy with on-line updates. The Sense of Community web site also acted as a focal point for discussion and information sharing, and provided activities and assignments, which encouraged and supported pupils and teachers in using and exploring the World Wide Web.

The culmination of the Sense of Community project was a three day Congress of Nations in Edinburgh. Representatives from the participating schools worked together further developing the drama-based imaginative work and also debating issues relating to the lives of young people today. The event was held in partnership with the Scottish Parliament Education Office, with MSPs from all the main parties participating and was the first non-parliament event to be held within the Chamber. The programme placed the participants in the role of key decision makers, and the shape of the narrative meant that the participants were enabled both to make decisions and to reflect on the consequences of those decisions. The sessions were facilitated by TAG drama workers and actors were used in different roles to heighten the dramatic tension. The final plenary session was chaired by the Presiding Officer, Rt. Hon Sir David Steel KBE MSP, with the pupils in role as ambassadors for their ‘imaginary communities’.

“The Young People’s congress is a tremendous opportunity for school children from all over Scotland to participate in and experience our new democratic structures and procedures.” Rt Hon Sir David Steel KBE MSP

Reactions from the young people involved included:

“I am very proud that I spoke at the parliament because I am very quiet.”

“At the congress I felt I was more confident.”

And from teachers:

“The congress helped the children realise that they are valued members of our society - their thoughts and ideas are very important and they have the right to express them freely.”

Sense of Community involved 28 schools from 6 local authority regions across Scotland. Over 700 pupils took part in the project and 18 MSPs representing all the political parties were involved.