Breakthrough Traineeship – Administration & Communications Assistant, Southampton
About Breakthrough
Breakthrough is a 6‑month employability programme designed as a stepping stone to get you workplace experience and all-important employment skills. This short placement gives you insight into a future career in the Creative Industry, supporting your confidence and professionalism in the workplace, and helping you to break through into a career that matters to you!
Read more about Breakthrough here:
The role
The post holder will work under our Marketing & Communications Manager to learn the basics of running social media and marketing /communications for a small charity. This will involve using scheduling apps, tracking analytics, basic asset creation and content capturing using mobile/DSLR cameras during external partnership events or in our workshops. You may also assist with core communications such as newsletters, blog posts, or website updates. There will be some training around communications, GDPR, and safeguarding.
They will also learn some of the organisation’s administration, working alongside our Admin Officer, including using SharePoint, Teams and other 365 basics, supporting the team and ordering stock replenishments.
This role will include assisting with the:
- Content creation
- Content calendar curation & publishing
- Setting up and packing away workshops
- Capturing workshops and external events
- Website updates
- Automated communications e.g. regular activity posts & newsletters
- Organising equipment and resources
- Scanning and filing documents
- Uploading and managing files within SharePoint
- Supporting curation and installation of exhibitions
- Working alongside the Youth Leadership Pathways and Progression group
About the employer
Our mission, since formation in 2015, is to empower people and communities through creative learning using the medium of photography, visual arts and creative writing. By giving people the ability to express the unique viewpoints in their own vision, we build confidence and resilience by giving them new skills.
We have a team of 5 staff and 1 freelancer artist educator and we have volunteer opportunities for young people under 30. We work with young people from all backgrounds, but particularly those that are justice involved (or at risk of being so), those from the LGBTQIA+ community and young people who are not currently in employment, education or training, and face barriers to accessing arts education and creative opportunities.
We give these young people an opportunity to be creative in a safe and inclusive environment, a chance to explore the world of arts and culture without the barriers that they typically face. We recognise the unique challenges faced by these communities, and we strive to create a safe and inclusive space where participants can explore their creativity, build valuable skills and experience authentic opportunities for professional development.
We are an LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent led organisation, any applicant needs to show at the very least allyship and a willingness to learn.
Deadline for applications
The deadline is 11:45pm, on 17 August
You will need to download the job description below and read it carefully, and review the eligibility criteria below to ensure you are able to apply.
You then need to fill out the form below to submit your application.
All of the job descriptions include an “Employers advice” section and we strongly recommend that you tailor your answers to ensure they cover that advice given for the specific role you are applying for.
You can apply for more than one role if you wish to, but you will need to submit separate applications using the same process.
We strongly suggest that you research travel options for the role before applying to ensure travel is feasible.
To be eligible to apply for a Breakthrough traineeship, applicants must:
- Be aged 18-25 on the 29th September 2025
- Have the right to work in the UK
- Available to start work on the 29th September 2025 and available for the duration of the placement (until 28th March 2026)
- Have no or little (less than one month) previous experience of working in an arts, creative or voluntary sector organisation
In addition to the above, applicants should also meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Currently not in employment, education or training (NEET)
- Be disabled and/or Neurodivergent
- Have current or prior mental health issues
- Have experienced racism, homophobic or transgender discrimination
- Be a recent school or college leaver (A level or equivalent)
- Are struggling to find work due to lack of employment or training experience
Download the full job description
This contains more information about the role, including advice from the employer.
Breakthrough 2025 Application Form
Please ensure you have read the job description and all other information above before applying.
Contact us
If you are unsure if you are eligible, have any other questions, or need information in a different format, please email our Careers team:
FAQs
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If you have applied for a Breakthrough placement in a previous year and been unsuccessful, then yes you are very welcome to apply again if you meet this years eligibility criteria!
If you have already successfully undertaken a Breakthrough placement before, you won't be eligible to apply again.