Ruff Necks CIC

19/08/2026

So excited to joining the Hub & Spoke network! As a small not-for-profit business their help is invaluable to us!

Founded by Ellie, Ruff Necks CIC is doing fantastic work in East Kent to create opportunities for young people to explore creativity, build confidence and develop their skills through music, movement and performance.
At the heart of Ruff Necks is a commitment to creating safe, inclusive and supportive spaces where young people can express themselves, connect with others and discover what they’re capable of. Through creative activity and performance, they’re helping to support wellbeing while giving young people a voice and a place to belong.
We’re really pleased to have Ellie and the Ruff Necks team joining Hub & Spoke.

13/08/2026

We saw this quote today and fell in love! As a neurodivergent being trying to navigate life, I've often felt like I'm not enough, whilst being told I'm too much... Both so damaging to feel or hear! So perhaps it's not about fitting in, just finding your place. And in the wise words of Cynthia Erivo , one is never too much, "Simply more!"

We welcome neurodiverse young people into our theatre space, because without the arts, we wouldn't have found our place or our tribe and always would have felt on the outside. In our workshops, we are the tribe and we are brilliant - however much more we are!

30/07/2026

Yesterday was so exciting! We took a classic exercise and used it to explore the power struggle dynamic of the Gloucester family.

Our young participants focussed on height, gaze and placement to depict the shifting power between the characters and what a stunning exploration it was!

29/07/2026

Our week of summer workshops is underway and we could not be more proud of the young people we are working with.

The participants have delved deep into the characters of Shakespeare's King Lear, explored different types of staging in the theatre and started to explore physicality with music.

Our workshop highlight from yesterday was 'Confidence Alley'. Think Soul Train meets awkward performance spaces. It's a team celebration of each individual and their creative expression!

3 more workshops before we break for the rest of summer! Let's go team Ruff Necks!

24/07/2026

We are so excited to kick off our summer workshops ahead of our rehearsals for our first major project, Shakespeare Swung: King Lear.

Our sessions are now fully booked, but we cannot wait to show you our progress as we work towards our performance in Dover!

17/07/2026

Today our Founding Director, Ellie Russell, had the absolute pleasure of meeting 'almost' all of our wonderful community crochet volunteers as they collected their yarns for costuming from us at

We could not have been more delighted and overwhelmed with the positive response from our local community members who were willing to give up their time and expertise to help us create our first production of Shakespeare Swung: King Lear!

Ladies, you are everything right about our wonderful town and community of creatives! Thank you!

16/07/2026

Today was our first yarn drop with our amazing crochet volunteers! Costume design is so much fun and we can't wait to share the final results when all the crafting has been completed!

For now, can you place any bets as to which King Lear characters are on display here?

Our crochet poncho adornments have been inspired by the local flora and fauna found along the Kent Coast, including sea kale, cuttlefish bones and vipers burgloss!

10/07/2026

We are actively recruiting for our cast of 15 to join us for a week of summer school explorations with the view to continue as an after school club in September for a live public performance in October.

Our workshops are neuroinclusive and open to those in secondary level education or equivalent (including home ed)!

Whilst our work is centred around Shakespeare, it isn't as you might know it! Think physical theatre, think drums, think collaborative creativity!

The sign up link is in our bio, or you can scan the QR code in the poster. Please share with any young person who likes to move and create - we are on a mission to make some magic - AND IT'S FREE!!!

https://forms.gle/FgVYSj5VaHDPyh1z8

08/07/2026

How many skeins? Well... The answer is 38 (in this image). But there are a few more odd balls unraveling nearby!

Our crochet volunteers have been assigned their poncho and floral creation tasks and we are ready to start costuming!

A huge thank you to for their Dragon's Den Pledge of £250. Their support has allowed us to pay for our yarn and crochet patterns, but also our insurance to go and deliver our youth theatre projects in Folkestone and Dover!

This really is such a beautiful example of different demographics in the community coming together to create something special and it gives us all the good feels!

07/07/2026

WE DID IT!!! We hit our fundraising target on and we are now ready to start delivering our youth empowering theatre workshops in Folkestone for young people aged 11-18!

We owe a huge thank you to everyone who has pledged, as well as the support from who pledged a whopping £2,891 to our cause.

Whilst we are so proud to have reached this amazing target, we have an opportunity now to employ a young person for £10 an hour at the real living wage - as set out by

If you are able, please show your support and help to tackle the NEET crisis in real time!

The link is in our bio and below:
https://www.spacehive.com/shakespeareswung