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Partnership investment to help young people into education and employment

30 November 2016

 

A partnership investment involving the Prince’s Trust, Teesside University and Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima) will help young people move into education and employment.

The Prince’s Trust works with thousands of young people across the region each year, providing them with the tools they need to succeed.

The trust was awarded £25,000 partnership investment funding, from Culture Bridge North East (CBNE), to secure two Get Started programmes in Tees Valley.

Culture Bridge North East is one of ten bridge organisations set up by Arts Council England to help ensure every child and young person has the opportunity to experience arts and culture. CBNEs partnership investment fund helps lever long term investment that will nurture and enhance relationships with the education, arts and culture sectors.

The Get Started initiative is for young people aged between 16-25 in challenging circumstances, who are not in education, employment or training. It gives them the chance to take part in activities, with help from inspirational experts, to work towards different challenges, which in turn develops their skills and confidence.

Elvie Thompson, CBNE Programme Manager, explains: 'We use our partnership investment fund to help provide new opportunities for children and young people to get involved with arts and culture. We want to target our investment where it will make a real difference to young people’s lives, so we’re delighted to be helping create this new partnership between the Prince’s Trust, Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima) and Teesside University.'

The Get Started programme will run in Tees Valley over the next two years and if successful, 24 young people who are not in education, employment or training will spend a week exploring the arts while building their confidence and team working skills.

mima and Teesside University are together committed to promoting art as a tool for social change

Professor Mark Simpson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching)

Professor Mark Simpson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), Teesside University and Prince’s Trust local ambassador, said: 'Arts and culture make a huge contribution to improving well-being and raising confidence and self-esteem for young people who are facing difficulties. mima and Teesside University are together committed to promoting art as a tool for social change and we are delighted to be involved in this partnership to help put this into practice.'

Gemma Dyer, Prince’s Trust Public Sector Partnerships Manager, said: 'The Prince’s Trust is thrilled to be working with Culture Bridge North East, mima and Teesside University to bring arts and culture themed Get Started programmes to the Tees Valley.

'The Prince’s Trust Get Started programme works with young people who face significant challenges including mental health problems and long-term unemployment. Arts based programmes result in dramatic improvements for our young people as it gives them a platform to improve their confidence and develop resilient work ready skills.'

The knowledge exchange which will take place through the partnership work will be invaluable, allowing youth sector partners to gain understanding of the culture sector, and vice-versa.


 
 
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