Street Cones
​Street Cones is a team of creative artists with lived experience in the criminal justice system and creative artists from the worlds of theatre and art. We support those with criminal convictions, addiction survivors and young people, via the medium of the arts - because we believe that people are so much more than their pasts and should be given the opportunity to experience new, motivational and creative environments.
It's not what you’ve done. It's what you can become.
Presenting eye-opening theatre, designing workshops and producing short films, many set to a backdrop of prison, street life and lived experiences, we help to make a real difference to society. The arts and drama enable opportunities to move from a fixed to growth mindset, to grow and develop greater Emotional Intelligence.
By facilitating creative teamwork and working with people from all walks of life, we offer an environment of possibilities for individuals to get involved in their community and for communities to understand better where and how they can support.
We believe that performance, improvisation, discussion theatre, story telling and filmmaking are powerful tools - using drama as therapy. By engaging and inviting personal and community involvement, experience and performance, we act as a catalyst for future change, for hope and for personal development.
We refuse to sensor true experiences. Everyone should have access to real and honest performances created through understanding the stories of lived experiences.
We work with communities, with individuals who have experienced lows and highs, with involvement from many support groups, councils and bodies, with artists ...
... and we deliver performances based on life, for the improvement of future lived experiences: for individuals and for their community.
Why "Street Cones"?
Street cones are often seen discarded within the community - left on the streets in some of the strangest locations, abandoned after their primary use has been exploited. Founder Hugh Young began to see parallels between street cones and the marginalised, unrepresented members of society. So, he decided to form Street Cones, to focus on what he could do to help these individuals on the road to change. After all, a street cone has hugely diverse uses; it could be a witch's hat, pirate leg, trumpet or sitting on the head of the Duke of Wellington in Glasgow!
The unassuming street cones’ parallels with diversity and adaptability also apply to our members or “Cones” as they are known - anyone can be a Street Cone, no matter their sex, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. Street cones stand out and can come in many colours - it takes all sizes of cones to create awareness of a hazard and guide you along the right path.
Our logo represents a wee cone, supporting a larger cone that has fallen; an analogy demonstrating that in life, however big and outwardly strong we are, we all need support sometimes.
How we started
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Street Cones was established in 2014 by Hugh Young in HMP Barlinnie.
During his sentence, Hugh signed up for creative writing classes, participated in drama workshops facilitated by the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow and took on a role as a Samaritan (or listener) to other inmates. Hugh recognised the impact of the arts on his own life and the importance of drama as a platform on which to be expressive in a safe environment. And most importantly, how to learn by doing, rather than just passively observing.
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These strands pulled together to become the inspiration for creating Street Cones.
Hugh’s vision was founded on the belief that the arts can be transformative. Challenging the perceptions of those with criminal convictions and society at large and helps to support and develop a more positive future.
Street Cones is committed to supporting personal growth and personal impact, believing these to be integral to achieving a positive purpose in life, and a positive impact on society and community.
What we aim for
“Journeying towards a more objective and accepting society”….. (“and away from a subjective and judgemental one”).
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We aim to support our Cones with their journey for self and community recognition. Our programmes create awareness of potential hazards and dangers to overcome, teaching our Cones how to tackle these issues head-on, sensibly and logically.
We aim to support our Cones in understanding their emotions and how they communicate those feelings to others. We explore the triggers which set off negative emotions, how this can be changed or overcome, and how to ensure positive outcomes.
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We explore what we know and what we don't know about ourselves and how we start a journey towards achieving positive outcomes and destinations.
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We aim to support communities in overcoming subjectivity and judgement and move towards a greater acceptance of those who failed and now want to succeed.
Our vision is to provide opportunities for participants to seek and explore situations closely related to their own life experiences. We focus on the needs of the individual (rather than the individual fitting in with the programme). With the help of professional practitioners, we support our Cones to grow and develop as people and to develop their support for others.