Creative Kids

Creative Kids

At a glance

Causes

  • Arts
  • Children / families
  • Education
  • Young people

Other details

Geographical remit: 
Local

Objectives

The target audience of the arts education centre are residents of Bournemouth, struggling families with complex social needs, children with learning difficulties, young carers, vulnerable and marginalised groups, ‘latchkey kids’ and children excluded from school or being home educated. The Charity works in partnership with statutory and community organisations for referrals of ‘at risk’ children. More widely we work with children from all backgrounds and races with mixed abilities.

The Charity runs a registered Arts Education Centre in Bournemouth and is regulated by Ofsted. The Centre offers a national qualification in the arts and the arts provision has successfully taken 217 children through an Arts Award since 2012. The charity uses iPads to inspire, educate and motivate children and young people and help SEN children overcome barriers to learning. We also run an arts outreach project and free pop-up arts to schools, community events and national festivals.

Outcomes for Children 

  • A national qualification in the arts via the Arts Award.
  • Builds children’s confidence and self-esteem. Research shows a direct link between child poverty and low self-esteem (Williams, S. June 28 2007 http://poverty.suit101.com/ which is supported by The Children and Young People's plan (2008) to tackle the outcomes of adversity.
  • Decreases social isolation and gives children a sense of belonging.
  • Offers equal opportunities for vulnerable children so that they may have the same life chances as their peers.
  • Helps special educational needs children overcome barriers to learning.
  • Life skills to draw upon as children grow into young adults such as leadership, cooperation and teamwork though cross-cohort mentoring and shared learning.
  • Healthier and more active people and communities.
  • A commitment to and exploration of the arts; understanding of a range of art forms, artists and arts organisations.
  • Pathways onto further education in the booming digital arts sector.
  • An acceptance and respect for all cultures and people.

 

Outcomes Indirect

  • Offer of respite to parents with complex social needs leading to healthier lifestyles.
  • Freedom to attend interviews and return to work leading to rise from poverty and independence from state support.
  • Freedom to access support services such as Citizens Advice, counselling/therapy, Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous leading to healthier lifestyles.
  • Decreased social isolation for families and increased community connections leading to sense of belonging and pride of place.
  • An increase in the number of local emerging artists in regular paid work leading to a boost to the artistic community which contributes to a thriving local arts scene. 

 

Impact

  • Early intervention limits the need for intensive support work later, costing the tax payer £75,000 per family per year to support ‘Troubled Families’ (David Cameron, 2011 speech).
  • Reduces anti-social behaviour (removes children from the streets).
  • Closes the attainment gap for local children – by May 2017 the Charity awarded 217 children a National Qualification in the arts via the Arts Award.
  • Opens pathways for children to careers in the ‘thriving local digital sector’.
  • Early interventions are proven to have positive outcomes for children with learning disabilities https://www.apple.com/education/docs/L419373A-US_L419373A_AppleTechDisabilities.pdf

 

 

Activities

The Charity runs an Arts Education Centre in Boscombe, which offers an Ofsted registered  ‘Holiday Arts Club’for children age 6 – 14. It  is open daily from 8 am – 6 pm during the school holidays (equates to approximately 12 weeks per annum) with the exception of weekends and Bank Holidays. The fee to attend is £20 per day.The capacity of club is 20 per day. Staff ratios are set at 8:1. Children take part in combined arts workshops and are enrolled on the Arts Award Program. A portfolioof previous holiday club activities shows how the days are broken down into two, two hour combined arts workshops, with an allocated time for ‘arts award’ delivery and ‘free time’.

In October 2017 the charity launched a free digital after school club. It is open daily during term time (equates to approximately 40 weeks per year) from 3 – 6 pm. The after school club is free and part-funded by the Neighbourhood Fund until September 2019. The ‘drop in’ sessions offer children access to the internet, digital skills in apple devices, safe use of iPads and access to one-to-one support from an Arts Award Advisor.

No current opportunities

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