ATYP Impact Evaluation
07 Conclusion This research suggests that for young people, ATYP’s environment, staff and activities foster theatre skills and helps young people to build connections. It also helps them build transferable life skills including confidence, interpersonal skills and resilience. All these things are related to wellbeing. Nine out of 10 participants say ATYP has had a positive impact on their wellbeing, and seven in 10 say it has had a very positive impact. The key drivers behind ATYP’s impact are its safe space, its student led approach and its importance on and value of young people’s ideas. Its ability to impact anxiety levels, foster resilience, and connections to culture, are particularly important, shown through quantitative analysis to be closely linked with wellbeing. One parent commented on the impact of her son’s experiences with ATYP: I can't say just one thing. He has found a stimulating environment, that is comfortable and safe, where his tribe are, he has made friends from other schools that he still keeps in contact with, he has mentors and tutors from ATYP that he knows he can call on anytime, and has been taught a wide range of skills that will be with him forever (whether he chooses to go down the acting pathway, or another pathway in life). This means that there are more young people and adults who are well, who can tell their story and connect with others, and who are more empathetic members of society that speak up when something’s important. There are also more people who appreciate the value of the arts, and more talented artists and arts professionals pursuing creative careers. The indirect or “spill-over” benefits from these impacts to the broader community appear to be far reaching – with present and past participants using their skills and experiences to make positive changes in their personal, professional and public lives. The program logic suggested by the research is shown at Figure 15. Figure 15: ATYP Program Logic
If these impacts are occurring across the youth arts sector, this research suggests that significant wider cultural and social impacts could be derived from young people participating in youth arts programs. Valuing arts experiences and skills may not only help more young people with the challenges they face today, but prepare them to become the artists, parents and politicians of tomorrow who will foster a more compassionate, creative and fair society. 40