A very special performance of Jack and the Beanstalk by young people within the care system on the Isle of Wight has been hailed a success by all those involved.

Around 60 young people, carers and foster carers took part in the pantomime which took place as part of the Isle of Wight Council’s project to deliver the Creativity4Health (C4H) Programme South East which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund Wellbeing Programme and Arts Council. It took place at Shanklin Theatre on Tuesday 8 December 2009.

Young people in the care system, along with social services staff worked on every aspect of the pantomime from script writing and set design to making props and costumes. It took over a year of careful planning and preparation.

Over 150 people watched the performance which followed Jack trying to obtain new qualifications and find work with help from characters from other well known pantos including Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast.

Cllr Dawn Cousins, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member responsible for Children said:

“The Pantomime was a huge success and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievements.

“The project was designed to encourage and enable young people, their carers, families and support workers to take part in arts and creative activities to help them get fit as well as improve their emotional health and wellbeing.”

The Creativity4Health  Programme also enabled young people to perform at the Star Award Ceremony held in October and take part in Art and Meditation workshops run by a local artist during the summer.