April Talk with Fiona Da Silva-Adams

It’s April, the second month of Spring, Easter has been and gone and we're now almost into May. We’re catching up with some business owners this month to see how things are looking for them at the moment. Today were talking to Fiona Da Silva-Adams who is founder & CEO of Revolution Performing Arts and RPA Rapport Community Interest Company, both are based in Wanborough, Wiltshire. Revolution Performing Arts & RPA Rapport work with young people aged four to 18 years using performing arts as a tool to celebrate uniqueness, empower individuality and build life skills of confidence and self-expression in a nurturing, gentle environment.

How is April looking for you in your business? 
April brought us the Easter holidays and our wonderful HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) programme funded by Swindon Borough Council. Young people who receive free school meals are funded to attend RPA holiday sessions free of charge and receive a free hot meal at every session. It is a wonderful opportunity to give back. I received free school meals as a child and so it is wonderful to be able to personally support this campaign. The sessions are also open to paid clients and are Ofsted registered to help parents with childcare.

This month it’s Stress Awareness Month, what does stress mean to you? Do you support people with stress? Your team? Or clients? 
Stereotypically, performing arts can be notoriously stressful however at RPA we use performing arts as a tool to relieve stress and are about to embark on social prescribing as a vehicle to guide people to RPA through the NHS.  

Furthermore, young people often will find RPA as a place to relieve the stress or anxieties of life. A place to soothe and a place of solace where they can utterly be themselves.  

After all “Fear is (just) excitement without the breath,” (Frederick Salomon Perls) and we all just need to breathe deeper, slower and calmer and look around, observe and appreciate the beauty that is around us.

Did you know that this Thursday it's Pay It Forward Day? Who could you ‘pay it forward’ to? Has anyone ‘paid it forward’ to you? 
RPA love ‘pay it forward’ and will often practise random acts of kindness.  We often say, “if you can, you should!” We recently received a wonderful donation from a grandparent to support anyone we felt would need it in this difficult climate. How wonderful is that? 

Also, we offer free places to young people who are affected by domestic abuse.  That is always so rewarding and often I feel the benefit is more in the giving than in the receiving.

Have you got any special offers you’d like to mention?
RPA are excited to be back at the Wyvern Theatre in June with a VIP Gala of  “The Show Must Go On - A Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Resilience”. 

Around young people, aged four to 17 years, will be emblazoned on a huge screen performing a film inspired by 70 years of West End shows and embracing the resilience shown by Her Majesty the Queen.  

Tickets on sale now: https://swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/tickets-the-show-must-go-on-vip-gala-film-premiere-swindon-2022

For more information visit www.revolutionpa.co.uk