A team of coaches and facilitators
with rich and varied experiences from across the Arts, Cultural and not-for profit sectors
ABOUT
We facilitate spaces of mutual support, where individuals, teams or organisations can cultivate healthy environments and inclusive cultures, by communicating effectively and engaging in change.
COACHING
(Team or Group)
Professional Partnership?
Line-Manager & Direct Report?
Team of colleagues?
We offer Team Coaching for pairs or small groups designed to enhance communication and deepen understanding of what could make your relationships thrive.
Cross Organisation Group?
We also offer Group Coaching which can support colleagues from across an organisation to work towards a shared aim or outcome.
Team/Group coaching series include: National Theatre
'AWAY DAY' SESSIONS
Whether it's a day to focus on strategic planning, a vision & values session, or an afternoon of "getting to know each other", we can design and deliver a session to fit your team's needs.
Previous experience includes sessions for Departmental Teams, Senior Management Teams and Boards of Trustees; ranging from small arts charities to large NPOs.
Previous 'Away Sessions' include:
TRAINING
Based on our diverse experiences, we can deliver tailored training sessions on a range of topics. This could include:
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Action Learning Sets
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Communication Skills
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Facilitation Skills
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Mentor / Mentee
Training sessions can be in person or online.
Previous training sessions include:
Facilitation training for staff at Amal (Sept 2022)
Staff Forum training for the
BESPOKE
If you have a challenge to solve as a team or organisation, need to gather input from a range of voices, require a host/facilitator for a large event or want any combination of our other offerings, we can consult with you to design and deliver a bespoke offer to address your need.
Previous bespoke projects include:
'Group visioning sessions' for Shakespeare's Globe (Feb 2022)
'The Listening Project' at the National Theatre (completed March 2021)
Hosting the 'International Literature Showcase Symposium' (National Centre for Writing, July 2021)
SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS
COACHING
(Individual)
Artist or Executive?
Freelancer or Employee?
Returning to work after family leave?
At a crossroads in your career?
Keen to build your mental fitness in order to reach your full potential?
Through experienced one-to-one coaching, we can provide a safe, supportive and gently challenging space, where you can explore your own personal and professional development, develop your mental fitness and overcome any internal barriers that might be holding you back.
CAREER
FOCUSSED
Wondering 'What's Next?' for you and/or your career?
We can deliver carefully pitched reflective sessions to enable individuals (or small groups) identify and communicate the transferable skills they've gained from their career to date, in order to plan for their future.
Previous sessions include:
'Re-imagining the Next Steps'
(staff from Theatre Royal Stratford East, Nov 2020)
MENTORING
(1:1 or Training)
Looking for a Mentor to help you navigate a career in the arts?
Charlotte, Gemma and Rachel can each provide mentoring for
individuals who would specifically benefit from our individual expertise and insights.
We can also provide training sessions for those about to enter into Mentoring relationships.
NB Mentoring is dependent the suitability of any proposed match and our availability; mentoring arrangements could paid or voluntary depending on circumstances.
OPEN GROUP SESSIONS
Support Squad can run affordable, open access Group Coaching sessions, Virtual Coffee Mornings, or Action Learning Sets for individuals (particularly freelancers) working in the arts and cultural sectors.
To express your interest and request more information, please contact thesquad@supportsquad.uk
WE ARE
Photo: Daniel Hambury
Founder | Project Lead |
Coach / Facilitator
GEMMA BAXTER
is a coach and facilitator, who supports individuals and teams to address challenges, seek clarity and fulfil their potential.
Committed to contributing to the development of a more equitable arts sector, Gemma founded the Support Squad as a platform for her and like-minded collaborators to communicate their offer.
Gemma has over 15 years experience of leading career-development and participation projects in the performing arts. Previously she worked at the National Theatre as Workforce Development Manager and Step Change Coordinator; prior to that she held roles at the Royal Opera House, ROH Creative Partnerships and Garsington Opera.
Gemma has trained as an Individual Coach with Relational Dynamics and Positive Intelligence® and as Systems Coach / ORSC™ practitioner with CRR UK. She is also an Associate facilitator for Tonic, an Executive Committee Member of Arts Network Sutton and a Trustee of Golden Toad Theatre.
is a coach and facilitator who creates safer spaces for people to explore how they can fulfil their personal, professional and creative potential.
Charlotte is a coach and supervisor for Relational Dynamics and coaches regularly for creative organisations including Sound and Music, ZoieLogic, Fuel and the National Theatre, and has coached for charities including the Young Women's Trust. She has facilitated meetings, away days and training for Trinity Laban, Studio Wayne McGregor and Arts Council England.
With a background in dance leadership, her previous roles include Executive Director at South East Dance.
Charlotte trained as a coach with Relational Dynamics and in Solution Focused Practice with BRIEF; and studied Ecopsychology with the Centre for Ecotherapy. She aims to be a climate-conscious coach, which involves recognising the earth as a stakeholder in her work. She is currently completing a Foundation in Fine Art.
is a cultural strategist, creative director and RD1st trained coach working at the intersection of art and social and environmental justice. Her practice uses the arts to explore the multiple perspectives and modes of understanding the world and being in it.
She has worked with national and international organisations to invite creative encounters in education and the arts, from local corner shops to world-renowned museums.
Alia is a Chevening Scholar, a Clore Fellow and Associate, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She is Artistic Director & CEO of Shubbak, Europe's largest festival of contemporary Arab arts.
She is rehearsing moving through life with joy, rest & connection whilst foregrounding dignity for all beings and the Earth, our only home.
Support Squad Associate
RACHEL BAGSHAW
is a director, coach and facilitator whose practice meets at the intersection of these three roles. Her facilitation work has included projects with the National Theatre, the Young Vic, Royal Opera House and the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme. She has a particular interest in access and has developed several pieces of work around creative access for theatres, drama schools and other arts organisations.
As a coach and director, she has also created a strand of work around resilience and creative practice, and is keenly interested in how we sustain the well-being of arts professionals.
Rachel was appointed Artistic Director at the Unicorn Theatre in 2023, is an Associate at the National Theatre as a recipient of the Peter Hall Bursary for 2023/24 and is on the board of Camden People’s Theatre.
TESTIMONIALS
"it's been fantastic working with you"
Thanks again for facilitating such a rich day yesterday – I think we will be referring to it for many months to come. You did such a professional job, we really benefitted from the care and thoughtfulness in your preparation. It’s been fantastic working with you.
Emmie Kell, Director, Museums & Cultural Property
Arts Council England