Resources

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We’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to.

Based on our super detective skills, curious conversations, and having our fingers in a whole network of pies, we’ve gathered lots of helpful resources together in one handy place. These are based on the most frequently asked questions, our own musings, some finely-honed skills, and requests from the sector. 

We’ve grouped some resources together by topic into toolkits with articles, links, templates, and media to keep you up-to-date, informed and inspired. Think of the resources as individual books, and the toolkits as the shelf in the library that they all sit on together.

If you think we’ve missed something out, don’t sit there in silence – let us know! Tell us all about it by submitting a shiny new resource at the bottom of the page. 

Toolkits

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Toolkit
Video
LGBTQIA+ Toolkit
With proper LGBTQIA+ inclusion, everyone stands to benefit from a space that is less judgmental and champions uniqueness. Here are some starting points, as well as some ideas and tips.
MSH
Toolkit
Membership Support Portal
Our Membership Support Portal pulls together resources, tools and templates to support YTAS members to run as legal and sustainable businesses. In short, we’ve done the searching for you! 
Theatre Alliance Sun 3 July 2022 The Gaiety Ayr NFYT 2022 © photographer Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com 4198 scaled e1669223137466
Toolkit
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Improving EDI in your group is not just a tick-box exercise, but a shift in mindset.
A young theatre performer makes glasses with her hands
Toolkit
Video
Creative Pathways
This toolkit contains resources to help you take that first or next step in your creative career.
Stage performers lying down
Toolkit
Money Matters
So, you’ve got a brilliant idea for a new project – but how do you pay for it?
A performer reading a piece of paper
Toolkit
Keeping You Right
Keep up-to-date with all the latest developments on policies, legislation and best practice.
A young theatre performer talking into a microphone
Toolkit
Video
Getting Started
If you’re considering setting up a new youth theatre group, then this is the toolkit for you!
A river in the woods in Scotland
Toolkit
Video
Environmental Sustainability
This toolkit helps to explain what environmental sustainability means and why it is relevant in a youth theatre context.
A young theatre performer stood in front of lights
Toolkit
Outdoor Performance
This toolkit provides a starting point for groups researching ways to work outdoors.

All resources

If you’d rather look at all of our resources individually, no problem! They love working together as part of a toolkit, but they’re perfectly happy to put on a solo performance too. 

Edinburgh City Council logo
Cultural Guide for Artists and Creatives in Edinburgh
Getting to know Edinburgh’s diverse arts and culture sector will help you to identify which spaces and opportunities could support your career as an established artist, emerging talent and or community arts practitioner.
YTAS Emergence Fri 24 March 2023 Traverse Theatre © photographer Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com 7948 scaled 1
Complying with Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) legislation
Working with children, young people, or vulnerable adults? Then you need to read this. Compliance with the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme is a legal requirement.
A woman using a laptop computer with another woman standing behind her holding a wine glass
Using AI in funding applications
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in our lives, how could we use its capabilities to assist funding application writing? The National Lottery Community Fund wrote this helpful statement, including tips to help and issues to consider.
YTAS Primary Logo
YTAS EDI Policies and Action Plans
As part of our EDI toolkit, we’re happy to share the work we’ve done here at YTAS to embed EDI principles into our work and make the world of youth theatre a fairer, more inclusive space.
Manifesto
LGBTQIA+ Manifesto of Care and Respect
Our collective of LGBTOIA+ practitioners have compiled this manifesto to help Scotland’s youth theatre sector create an environment for young LGBTQIA+ people to thrive and have the strength to challenge the world outside of our workshops.
National Festival of Youth Theatre Ayr Gaiety Youth Theatre Fri 1 July 2022 YTAS © photographer Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com 2
LGBTQIA+ Poster and Resource Downloads
Some printable resources for you to use to help make your spaces inclusive to LGBTQIA+ identities.
Queering the Narrative
Video
Queering the Narrative
A six-video workshop series by Drew Taylor-Wilson designed for artists and practitioners working in youth theatre settings who are looking for inspiration in their creative practice.  
YTAS Emergence Fri 24 March 2023 Traverse Theatre © photographer Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com 7948
Out with Suzi Ruffel
The ‘Out’ podcast includes interviews with a wide range of LGBTQIA+ people, and stories allies and LGBTQIA+ listeners send in. It’s a great place for anybody looking for connections to the LGBTQIA+ community. 
NFYT 2024 Ayr Sun 7 July 2024 © Andy Catlin 4403
Getting Equalities Monitoring Right
This guide from Stonewall Scotland is a comprehensive resource for organisations in Scotland to support trans positive approaches to gathering equality data. It helps to explain why it is important, how to collect it, and what to do with it afterwards.
The Full Spectrum Experience Emergence 2019 Sat 16 Nov 2019 Traverse Theatre © Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com 8646
Trans-Inclusive Residentials
This resource is specifically about supporting trans or gender diverse identities on residential trips, including discussions about toilets, showers, and sleeping arrangements. 
The Full Spectrum Experience Emergence 2019 Sat 16 Nov 2019 Traverse Theatre © Andy Catlin www.andycatlin.com 8707
Good Practice Tips For Working With Young Trans People 
A practical guide about supporting trans young people in formal education and community settings, with bullet point options that we think are helpful to consider in any youth theatre setting.
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Allsorts Booklets
Explore all of the Allsorts Youth Project’s downloadable booklets for further details on how gender and sexuality intersect with other identities and cultures.

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