Inspiring young people to work in culture

The Source’s Sense Of Place project aimed to tap into anticipation about Rotherham’s impending role as Children’s Capital of Culture 2025.

Under the scheme, six young youth workers were trained up and dispatched to talk to young people in Rotherham about career opportunities in arts, culture and entertainment.

They worked with ten schools, 20 other organisations and 2,250 people overall.

Youth worker Dannielle Nixon, who led the team, said: “We’ve had positive feedback from every organisation our six  phenomenal young women worked with.”

The team held career planning sessions at Thrybergh Academy and St Bernard’s RC High School, sharing information on apprenticeships and training and helping pupils prepare for job interviews and university applications.

At four libraries they staged weekly job clubs and taught digital skills.

They also organised a two-day youth empowerment workshop led by entertainer and MTV Base star KAT B and ran a media skills workshop for other Rotherham CCoC trainees.

Every week, they worked with Rush House, outdoor education centre Endeavour, The Base Community Hub in Wath and the Rotherham Opportunities College (ROC) for adults with special educational needs.

The ROC won the £500 first prize in Sense Of Place’s art competition with their two-metre-high Wheel of Life, featuring the things people need to thrive in life.

ROC assitant principal Louise Smith said: “The trainee youth workers led conversations with students about what the wheel was about and what it could feature, sourced materials and helped them complete the work.

“They were brilliant.”