Evaluations

“We are all still glowing from the amazing experience No Added Sugar gave the children during our recent Art Week. I cannot express strongly enough what a positive experience it was for all the children - they are so proud of the work they produced, both individually and as class groups. Now, all the children all ‘know’ they are ‘artists’ and have experienced the thrill that comes from collaborative working.”

“I just hope that at some point in the future we will be able to afford another week of what No Added Sugar have to offer. It was certainly great value for money!”Maran White, Headteacher
Robert le Kyng Primary School.

“The art workshop by No Added Sugar was fantastic. Every pupil in the school was able to take part and it was a route for pupils to shine and show their creative flair.”

“To be able to work on such a large scale is rare for us and Toni and Gordon were able to facilitate this opportunity as well as enhance the look of the school.”

“We hope to work with Toni and Gordon again soon as their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm inspire us.”New Siblands School

“No Added Sugar are passionate about their art and have often worked with our most challenging young people. We are delighted with the way that they can engage and inspire even the most reluctant and challenging participants. We believe that their ability to develop positive relationships with young people changes behaviour and attitudes within these participants.”

“No Added Sugar always give 100% during their arts provision and it’s a pleasure to be able to work with activity providers who show professionalism at all times. We regularly employ them and will continue to do so.” Simone Matthews
SPLASH (Schools & Police Liaison for Activities in School Holidays) – Youth Schemes Coordinator

“Thank you so much for working with ‘J’.”

“Thank you for being different and unique, thank you for not seeing special needs children as just children whose needs are special, thank you for not seeing disability and the can’t-do but seeing the ability and can-do.”

“Thank you for inspiring ‘J’.” Suzanne Saunderson

“I worked with Toni Dickinson on 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', a project which explored notions of heritage and culture and which produced creative pieces displayed in Bristol's public spaces.”

“Toni’s enthusiastic and creative contribution brought out the best in the participants and was essential for developing the ownership that they now feel for their work. Her flexibility and commitment to the project helped salvage some potentially serious situations and her time management and communication with the rest of the project team was also excellent.”

“I would not hesitate to recommend her to any other such projects.”Denis Wise Community Outreach - Bristol Central Library

“Toni Dickinson has led several art-based projects with Bristol City Council and Hengrove School.”

“In one of these projects the young people were given the opportunity to realise the wide scope of their ideas through discussion and research whilst accessing new art techniques and media. Due to her experience and expertise working with young people from varying and often challenging backgrounds, Toni not only managed to produce high quality artwork with the students but also contributed to their social and academic development - they genuinely enjoyed and gained from the project, displaying a sense of pride and achievement, many for the first time.”

“She is extremely competent when addressing problematic situations and young people respond to her with a respect and understanding not always seen in the classroom! Her ability to encourage the students to be passionately involved with, and gain ownership of, their projects lead to their great success. I was personally overwhelmed at the impact of the project on the students and felt inspired by the way that Toni passionately carries out her work with young people.” Rebecca Fitzgerald
Arts College Manager

I am a teacher and Art Coordinator at Watchfield Primary School. I would like to fill you in on some of the benefits we have experienced through working with No Added Sugar and the positive impact this has had on our children, from a school's perspective.

We have worked with No Added Sugar for the past 5 years on 6 separate projects. These have completely transformed the appearance of our school and promoted the value of art within our curriculum.

Their Art workshops are fun, engaging and very accessible. All children are able to take part and succeed. Toni and Gordon have a unique way of making the children feel supported and encouraged; their workshops are safe and positive environments in which children can take risks with their art work, build confidence in their own creative choices and flourish under their guidance.

We are a military school with a high number of EAL, SEN and Pupil Premium children. As a school with a very transient nature (up to 50% can come and go within one academic year) it is important to us that children settle in and quickly develop a sense of ownership and pride for our school. No Added Sugar have often helped us with this through their community projects. By taking part in permanent art installations children feel like their contributions are important and that they are leaving their mark on the school, even if their stay with us is only a brief one.

Toni and Gordon have also been incredibly generous with their time and expertise; offering advice and ideas for our day to day teaching of the art curriculum. This has been particularly invaluable in helping us to identify and support our more able children to help them achieve greater depth. They have also offered CPD to our teachers, giving them the confidence to also be risk takers and be more ambitious with their own art projects.

We are currently making plans for our next project and would not hesitate to recommend their work. I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have and you are always welcome to come and visit our school to take a look at the projects we have achieved through their partnership. Helen Moore

Toni Dickinson worked at Hengrove School in the capacity of artist and project leader for an art exhibition project in June 2006. Toni has also been appointed by Bristol City Council and Hengrove School to lead an art-based project working with young Muslims and students from Hengrove School.

Due to her experience and expertise working with young people from varying and often challenging backgrounds, we were able to put complete confidence in her ability to work with the group selected for the first project. The group was of mixed ability with some extremely challenging young people that had become disengaged with learning and the school environment. Toni not only managed to produce high quality artwork with the students but also contributed to the student’s social and academic development.

The project exceeded our expectations, particularly as all participants contributed in ways we never anticipated. Toni’s ability to encourage the students to be passionately involved with and gain ownership of the project lead to its great success.

The young people were given a rare opportunity to use a variety of media to achieve and realise the wide scope of ideas they planned. The final project responded to the brief on both a practical and academic level, allowing the students to explore themes of the project through discussion and research whilst accessing new art techniques.

Toni is extremely competent when addressing problematic situations with the young people, and they responded to her with a respect and understanding not always seen in the classroom! The young people genuinely enjoyed and gained from the project, with individuals displaying a sense of pride and achievement, some for the first time. I was personally overwhelmed at the impact of the project on the students and felt inspired by the way that Toni passionately carries out her work with young people.

Toni’s work with us is of an exceptional and highly impressive standard, producing outstanding results from the young people involved. For that reason I hope we have many more opportunities to work with her in the future.Rebecca Fitzgerald
Arts College Manager