Page 18 - Community Living Magazine 35-1

first person
Welcome back to the new normal

At the prospect of live theatre, dances and travel – and making parts of the world in recent times, and
more of a difference – Sara Pickard dares to wonder if the even our small local group can make a
contribution. We have been getting young
worst is now behind us people in our community involved in
events such as village litter picks and
recycling schemes.
t the time of my last article, I was Wales has just eased most restrictions I have been involved with my drama
just about to start my new job as a but we are still being cautious in the way group for many years now and, back in
Adisabled people’s employment we go about resuming the sort of 2008 and 2009, was lucky enough to tour
champion with the Welsh Government. activities that we saw as normal before the UK professionally with Hijinx Theatre
How time has flown, and I am now six the lockdowns came in. touring productions.
months into that role. Our work to
increase employment opportunities for Out and about again
people with disabilities is going really well I have been able to go swimming again at
but, so far, meetings with my colleagues my local leisure club and have been
and businesses have all had to be online. meeting up with my boyfriend at open
As you can see from the photo, I am mic and karaoke nights, which we
working from my home workstation really enjoy.
provided by the Welsh Government. I am At first, it could only be “chair dancing”
really looking forward to having face-to- but now we can dance the night away
face meetings with everyone before too properly. I can also now enjoy shopping in
long as I am sure we can have an even our busy Cardiff city centre although that
bigger impact then. felt very strange at first.
Now that I am fully vaccinated and due Socialising with friends who I have only
to have a booster jab next month, I am seen online for over a year is really special
feeling more confident about returning to and something I have looked forward to Playing the lead role of Emily Brown, a
a new normal life. for so long. I am particularly looking Second World War evacuee, in Miss Brown
forward to our weekly to You was my first experience of working
dance classes starting alongside professional actors and I learnt
back soon, and we met so much. So many people dream of what it
up for a few drinks must be like to tour the country for three
recently to get in months in the back of a van with a group of
the mood. professional actors and a stage manager…
For over a year, all I was lucky enough to do it twice.
my meetings as a Being involved in live theatre and the
community councillor buzz you get from an audience is so
have had to be online special but it is also such a thrill to go to
but we have still the theatre to see productions, especially
managed to get our musicals. I have missed this so much over
work done. the last 18 months but “the show must go
I have particularly on” and I am so looking forward to our
enjoyed being a next visit.
member of our climate Our own drama group normally met
change and wellbeing weekly to rehearse for our annual show at
sub-group, which is the Wales Millennium Centre but this has
leading some really been another casualty of the pandemic.
important work. We are However, we have managed to meet
due to have our first weekly online to plan our next production
face-to-face catch-up at and this has allowed us to keep in touch
a coffee morning in the socially. Our first live rehearsal will be an
next few weeks. extra special day to look forward to.
The vital importance Over the past few years, we have Sara Pickard: at the computer; Simon Gough Photography: as Emily Brown
of looking after our enjoyed some wonderful family holidays,
environment has been especially in Tenerife and Croatia. As we
headline news in many move closer to that sense of a new normal,
to be able to return to those lovely sunny
In the lead role in Miss places that I have missed so much will be
Brown to You, which even more enjoyable than ever.
toured the country for Let’s hope things keep improving and we
three months can all enjoy living life as it used to be. n
18 Vol 35 No 1 | Autumn 2021 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk