Significant investment in quality creative opportunities is known to increase life chances of very young children and needs to be made available to families, particularly in some of the poorest, most culturally deprived areas that we work. Darlington resides within the Tees Valley an area that includes high levels of unemployment at 7%, almost double the national average. The Tees Valley also accounts for 18% of the 5% most deprived areas nationally.

We will build a flagship venue designed and aimed at young audiences. It will include a creative play space, studio theatre, rehearsal room. TH will programme a diverse range of performance and participatory activity designed for young people, will lead academic research into creativity in childhood and the venue will become a meeting point for artists, academics and children. The Hullaballoon will be a place that young people can call their own.