Moving towards 2030…
It’s an exciting time for DIY Theatre Company! Over the spring and summer terms, we’ve been thinking about the future – where we want to be, and how we’re going to get there.
DIY’s Core Company members, Gamechangers, Board, and staff team have taken part in some creative ‘Moving Towards 2030’ sessions to develop exciting ideas for the next three years. These sessions have given us a chance to reflect on what we’ve achieved, imagine where we want to go next, and plan how we’re going to get there!
Why are we doing it?
We’re not changing our values or vision. These remain the same:
“…a world where performers and creative leaders with learning disabilities are valued as part of the rich diversity of our cultural sector and society.”
We aim to do this by:
- Challenging preconceptions and barriers through high quality performances, education projects and research.
- Celebrating diversity and creativity in all areas of our work
- Promoting the achievements of performers, leaders and theatre-makers with learning disabilities and sharing good practice.
However, if we want to keep growing – and stay relevant – we need a plan that responds to an ever-changing world and reflects the ambitions of everyone in the company.
We wanted to involve as many people as possible shaping this plan. That’s why we made the planning process as inclusive and accessible as possible.
What have we done?
Towards the end of 2025 and the beginning of January 2026, we held two ‘visioning sessions’: one at our Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) with members, the Board, and our Advisory Group; and one with the full staff team.
At both sessions, people worked in three groups to talk about what they see, hear, and feel at DIY now – and what they’d like to see, hear, and feel in 2030.
Each person chose one important idea from the discussion, using a sound and an action to represent it. Together, these became ‘human machines’, which were shared and discussed by the full group.
The ideas from all six human machines were brought together into five key themes that shaped the next stage of our planning process:
- Aspiration
- Influence
- A Learning Organisation
- Staffing
- Governance.
Then, during the spring and summer, we held some half-day sessions to explore these themes in more detail.
Change Consultant Pauline Bell facilitated two sessions – one with Board members and one with the staff team; while Di Critchley and Linzi Brook co-facilitated another two – one with Core Company Members and one with Gamechangers.
How have we done it?
The sessions led by Di and Linzi used a participatory, person-centred planning approach. Participants chose props and photographs to help them talk about their experiences at DIY and what they were most proud of.
“All the stuff we’ve done, you don’t figure out how many words it is until you actually look at the words of each sentence. It makes me feel proud.”
Mike
“It makes me feel old!”
Angela
“When you get it down on paper it just blows your mind about how much we’ve done.”
Charlotte
Members then explored the questions…
- What could we have done better?
- What has got in the way?
…and discussed…
- What can we do to improve things?
- How can we tackle the things that get in the way?
…before considering one key question: What do we want DIY to achieve by 2030?
‘Live illustration’ captured all the conversations to ensure everybody could access the ideas being discussed – and also provides a great record of all the comments and ideas that emerged.
The sessions led by Pauline were discussion-based. Participants worked in two groups to explore themes identified at the visioning sessions:
Influence
What can DIY do have more influence – particularly in the creative, health and education sectors?
Aspiration
What can DIY do to increase opportunities for all DIY participants to achieve their aspirations?
A Learning Organisation
What can DIY do help everyone we work with reflect on their work, record what we learn, and share that knowledge – both inside and outside the organisation?
Staffing (discussed by the staff team only)
What can we do to make sure all staff have everything they need to succeed in their work at DIY, and that we are all clear about our job roles, what is expected of us, and what to expect of others working at DIY?
Governance (discussed by the Board only)
What can we do to make sure DIY can keep going, and make the best decisions for the future?
What next?
A huge thank you to all the staff, members, and supporters who’ve been involved in this process so far. Everyone has engaged with such thoughtfulness and enthusiasm – offering so many brilliant ideas!
The next stage will be to develop a Business Plan that guides how DIY is run between 2027 and 2030. To do this, we’ll need to identify a set of priorities that will help us move forward with clarity and a strong sense of direction.
We’re working on a draft which will be shared during the autumn term. DIY Board members, staff, and supporters will then have an opportunity to review it – making sure that (whatever happens in the future) DIY can keep making a difference.