Portsmouth Creative Skills
Supporting the personal development and career progression of disadvantaged young people
Portsmouth Creative Skills is a flexible pre-employability programme designed to equip care leavers and looked-after young people in challenging circumstances with life skills, work experience, confidence, passion and a sense of possibility.
This innovative partnership with Portsmouth City Council Children’s Services and the Portsmouth Virtual School, enhances the connection between education and the workplace; giving young people opportunities to engage in arts-related jobs, develop social, communication, team and professional skills and gain nationally recognised qualifications.
Young people aged 16+ participate in a series of workshops around topics such as money management, interview training and job applications alongside work experience placements in creative and cultural venues such as Portsmouth Guildhall.
‘It gave me confidence to go and search for work. Before I had no motivation but I did afterwards.’
–Young Person, Portsmouth Creative Skills Cohort 3, 2019
Younger participants experience a wide range of arts and cultural activities and are introduced to the many career possibilities that exist in the creative industries.
The programme has supported the creation of three Level Two apprenticeships as progression routes for the older young people. Two further young people have successfully completed trade-based apprenticeships.
‘Without you I wouldn’t of had the opportunity to work here at X. I really appreciate you supporting me throughout my journey here and well, my journey through my roughest time of my life. Keep doing what you’re doing and helping troublesome teenagers because that’s all I needed – a chance and some guidance and now I’m going into the new year a changed person.’
–Young Person, Portsmouth Creative Skills Cohort 3, 2019
Over 60 Young people have attended the programme since it began in May 2017, 53 have achieved Bronze Arts Awards and one young person has achieved their Silver Arts Award.
The first phase of the programme was funded by The Blagrave Trust and Children in Need. The programme is now in its fourth year and is currently being funded by Portsmouth City Council and investment from the Better Lives Through Culture Fund.
‘Just thought you ought to know that X won the Adult Learning of the Year (Basic Skills) award at the annual X Adult & Community Learning Ceremony last week. I am sure he wouldn’t mention it, but I think it really shows how progressions are made from that original Artswork funded placement two years ago.’
-Creative/Cultural Employer, 2019
The Portsmouth Creative Skills Programme has really enabled our organisation to develop an understanding of how to better support young people, alongside experiencing the benefits that the young person brings to our day to day work. We have been able to commission training aimed at managing and motivating young people in the work place, which has made us re-evaluate our processes and procedures when employing young people, making the working environment much more supportive and flexible. The young people we have worked with have brought new ideas and enthusiasm to projects, alongside beneficial support to staff, making a valuable contribution to the organisation.
-Hayley, Learning and Participation Manager, Portsmouth Guildhall (Creative/Cultural Employer), 2018
