About Us

“Theatre NEMO have a friendly, unpretentious way of working, treating people as people and not merely as criminal or psychiatric categories. This genuinely engages often hard-to-reach individuals, enabling them to sense qualities in themselves that they may not have known they had, or lost sight of. These are strengths which state-based professionals often lose. No-one else is doing quite the same things as Theatre NEMO, and it deserves support to continue doing for them, for the good of its individual beneficiaries, and as a contribution to the quality of life in Scotland.”

Mike Nellis, Professor of Criminal and Community Justice, Glasgow School of Social Work

Our Vision, Mission and Aims

Theatre Nemo may be a small charity, but we have HUGE aspirations.

Vision

Our vision is of an inclusive, supportive, integrated society, which recognises and values the contribution made by those affected by mental ill-health alongside everyone else.

Mission

Theatre Nemo’s mission is to empower people affected by mental ill-health to have better, more fulfilled lives through the creative arts.

Aims

Theatre Nemo’s work is based on 4 principal aims.

To improve and promote good mental health and well-being.
To improve the support available for carers, friends and families of those affected by mental ill-health.
To advance society’s understanding of mental ill-health and challenge misconceptions.
To make a significant and tangible contribution to create a more cohesive, integrated and inclusive community.

Outcomes

The experience of taking part in Theatre Nemo workshops affords a broad range of transformative, often life-changing benefits to our clients. With appropriate investment Theatre Nemo is committed to achieving the following outcomes in 2011-12:

1. Community workshops

Theatre Nemo will support 150 children, young people and adults (including carers) at risk of isolation to come together and develop key social skills and support networks to improve their relationships within traditional and non traditional family groups, and their integration to the wider community.

2. Hospital workshops

Theatre Nemo will support 30-40 adults to develop personal skills and improve their quality of life so that they are able to have better social connections contribute to their recovery from mental ill health.

3. Prison workshops

Theatre Nemo will support 30-40 prisoners to explore their own potential and develop key social skills to help improve life chances. Theatre Nemo will also act as a stepping stone to access other mainline support services.

4. Employability workshops

Theatre Nemo will pilot a programme to support 30-40 adults to explore their own potential and develop key social skills to help improve employment, educational and volunteering opportunities.

5. Performances, Exhibitions and Conferences

Theatre Nemo will reach 1200 people through the delivery and contribution to performances, exhibitions and conferences to help educate the public and break down the stigma associated with mental ill health. These are some (but not all!) of the key social skills that we help develop for our partcipants: an increase in self confidence
an increase in self esteem
the development of new, and rekindling of existing practical skills
an improvement in communication skills, particularly in verbal expression
an improvement in self expression
the development of leadership skills
the development of teamworking abilities