Kickstarters meet up at SVA in November 2021 to share their experience of working in one the many creative organisations in Stroud
In late 2020 Create Gloucestershire was delighted to be selected as a Gateway organisation for a new government employment scheme, called Kickstart.
Kickstart was set up to create high quality 6-month paid work opportunities aimed at those aged 16-24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment.
Our role was to support employers in the arts, cultural and education sector to recruit young people. Young people who due to the pandemic, were unemployed or not had the chance to build their networks or gain valuable work experience. The aim of Kickstart was to help young people become more employable, by developing their skills and confidence in a workplace setting, and to gain experience that will improve their chances of going on to find long-term, sustainable work.
Find out more about the Kickstart Scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme
How did it go?
Fast forward to March 2022 and the final young person had started their Kickstart placement.
We are so proud to have been instrumental in recruiting 60 young people in 23 arts organisations and schools in Gloucestershire, from Wyldwood Arts in the Forest of Dean, Loco Glass in Cirencester, Deepbed Radio in Gloucester, Kingshill House in Dursley to Bright Marketing in Cheltenham.
Callum is a Kickstart Glass Production Assistant at Loco Glass Ltd in Cirencester. He has learned a lot about the technical process of glass making over the last 5 months: "I've found a passion for glass making. I knew next to nothing about glass at the beginning. I've learned so much. It's given me inspiration to learn more and want to make things. I've even taken up drawing again".
Welcome to Fran and Josh, who are Kickstarters at Stroud Valleys Artspace and are supporting the operational and technical side of events, workshops and performances at SVA, The Goods Shed and refurbished The Picturedrome in Gloucester.
Kickstarters meet with with Zach Walsh - Artistic Director of Studio 18, arts warehouse project in Stroud
So far, we are aware of 12 Kickstarters who have been taken on by their employer beyond their placement. One of the Kickstarters said:
"It was the best decision I've made in my life so far".
The scheme provided an opportunity for Create Gloucestershire to build new partnerships on behalf of the arts and cultural sector in Gloucestershire with the DWP and other employer Gateways. Through ongoing presentations with job coaches and Open Doors events for young people, we have been able to increase awareness of the broader routes into this sector and more importantly, encourage a more diverse intake of talent. This has required employers to think a little differently about who and how they recruit new and diverse talent to help fill skills gaps, and hopefully ensure our sector can thrive for years to come.
Callum’s working as a Digital Assistant at Blackfriars
Kingshill House Kickstarter Ella stands outside the building
Jussara - JOLT host and network builder
Jo Smith, Gloucestershire Kickstart Employer Team Manager, DWP said:
"We are really pleased to have been working with Create Gloucestershire as a Gateway for the Kickstart scheme. We have had limited engagement with employers in the arts and cultural sector up until now. It has given us new contacts, relationships and energy to support young people, hoping to work in this sector.
It's been absolutely fantastic for Kickstart and for me, leading the Kickstart team of Employer advisors to get the chance to fill the gap with creative type roles. The Gloucestershire youth teams have been encouraged by so many new employers offering our caseloads work opportunities in the sector with some great outcomes already for long-term employment in the pipeline too.
We really want to continue this partnership, and find new ways to engage through work experience, volunteering and apprenticeships. Overall it has been met with great positivity".
Kickstarter team at The Roses theatre, Tewkesbury
Kickstarter Mayah working on a current commission at The Glass Foundry in Stroud
Kickstarter Kate - Marketing and Production Assistant - with co-workers at Can’t Sit Still
Kate is a laProject Management Assistant - Artshape
read the kickstart stories here
Kickstarters share their individual stories and tips of how to get into the creative industries in these blogs.
what next?
As the programme has now closed, Create Gloucestershire is keen to learn from Kickstart, and continue this conversation around supporting young people and the talent pipeline.
Read the Evaluation Report
We have now produced an Evaluation Report which describes the journey CG took as a gateway organisation, feedback from the partners and employers involved, stories from the 60 young people employed as well as recommendations for the future.
For more information or to be involved in future plans then please email: louise@creategloucestershire.co.uk