A huge thank you

On Sunday 27th August we hosted a Wrap Party to say a huge thank you and a glorious goodbye. The text below is the speech that I (Jen - founder and director of What Happens Now) said at the party to the brilliant people who came along to celebrate. We danced, we played games and we gave our thanks.

After an amazing four years of creativity, playing and telling stories we have decided to wrap up What Happens Now.

Co-founded by myself and Brian the social enterprise was set as a way for us to empower children and young people to tell their stories, explore their place in society about the world they live in. We had planned to do this in schools, community centres and youth groups. We also planned to run a birthday party strand to the business.

In 2019, we led one very cool project indoors with 120 kids from 60 different schools across Glasgow and worked intensively over three days to devise and perform six pieces of live theatre. All the work was shaped by the young people in the room.

In 2020 we were forced outside, literally, and we were all thrown in to a scary time and Claire had just created the Playbarn - I came along with my then, three year old and thought “Yeah, we can do something here.” I spoke with Claire and well… tada!

We have created and led special one -off events for children and their families, online kitchen discos, singing and story time sessions, full terms of outdoor drama classes, summer camps and online and in-person birthday parties. Through all these events we have engaged with over 1,500 families and employed 11 members of staff and three volunteers. We have performed around 35 different devised stories to audiences including a performance at Positive Stories in Negative Times festival, at the Band Stand next to Ayr beach. (Ask one of the cast to tell you about the story of the evil seagulls!)

We have played in the blazing hot sun and bitter icy cold and all that’s in-between. W have danced in the rain and sang in the sunshine. We have been paper dolls, Christmas elves, unicorns and chickens. We have discovered underground worlds, explored a chocolate forest and skateboarded on the rings of Saturn. We have watched children grow, develop, learn new skills, gain new insights, realise something from a different perspective, understand themselves in a way they didn’t before and feel uplifted with more confidence.

These young people are incredible and an absolute credit to you all. Please take a moment to congratulate yourselves whether you are a young one or a grown up - please give yourself a round of applause.

I can’t talk about What Happens Now without talking about the incredible staff. It’s always been such a team effort and I’m so proud that I get to stand here today with these incredible people. Fraser is heading up North to start an artist’s residency which is why he isn’t here but he sends his love. I am so grateful to him for bringing all his experience, out-of the-box creative thinking and kindness to everything he does. Our Saffron, who came on board right at the start and has been with us every step of the way. I was such a pleasure watching her lead over the past three years but particularly during the summer project just there. It was a masterclass in planning, delivery and collaboration. Eilidh - has also been with us from the start and is our party co-ordinator. The energy, enthusiasm and joy that comes out of her field the field and it’s a joy to watch her lead. Alice! - by my side every Saturday morning, she’s always full of ideas, always ready to take on a character role and pull out the silliness. A thank you to Claire for taking the chance on us when she’d never seen us in action. Thank you for supporting the work through the years. And, Niamh - the world’s coolest 17 year old and when I grow up I want to be just like you. Thank you to all of you for your time, energy , creativity and for always showing up with your sense of humour. Finally, a thank you to Brian for always going along with it. When I decided to decorate our living room in gold, shimmer curtain and dress up in 70s, 80s and 90s gear for the kitchen discos - you were up for it. For always ‘yes anding’ my awesome (wink) suggestions and for being a really great guy.

I am so proud of this community. To paraphrase the great Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye - they said ‘we are all capable of healing, love, joy and community’ and when I heard that I thought “Yes, that’s it. That’s What Happens Now” It was a source of healing in a time when we all needed it. It’s so full of love. It’s joyful - I have laughed till my face hurts. And it’s community.

Couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.