TakepArt

PROJECT REVIEW Funded by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund.

Conceived, delivered and managed by Sherborne Artslink.

What was

about?

WHY USE CREATIVE PARTICIPATION? Participation in cultural and creative activities has been shown to generate improvements to personal well-being, enhance self-esteem, increase confidence and generate a sense of belonging and community.

It is a vehicle by which to improve the quality of life, to celebrate talents, to build skills and experience, enhancing future prospects.

TakepArt focused on reaching children and young people in families who are less able to access activities due to poverty, isolation or disability.

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Working with Artslink has proved to be invaluable and helps us to reach families using different, but new ways to show families how important art can be in expressing emotions, communication and discussions as part of a child's continued developmental process.

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TakepArt was an outcome led project which offered young people, children and families a programme of creative activities and special events providing opportunities to enhance and improve their lives.

TakepArt took place in Sherborne, Dorset from July 2011 to September 2016, operating for 5 years and 6 weeks.

Sherborne Children’s Centre Manager

Outcomes The following project outcomes were agreed with the Big Lottery.

All were achieved: OUTCOME 1: 500 plus children, aged 11 and under, experiencing social and cultural isolation, gain skills and confidence through participation in creative out of school activities with their parents and/or carers, each year of the project.

4793 participated in total

OUTCOME 2: 100 young people aged 12-25, categorised as ‘hard to reach’ gain skills and increased confidence through participation in creative learning activities out of main stream education, each year of the project.

1354 participated in total

OUTCOME 3: 25 disadvantaged, vulnerable young people aged 15-25, develop their personal and vocational skills and self-confidence through participating in volunteering activities, work experience and training and development opportunities during the term of the project.

26 young people participated, including 2 internships OUTCOME 4: A minimum of five local community organisations engage each year with the project to develop and deliver programmes of user led, creative, participatory initiatives for children and young people in need, leading to expanded, accessible, quality service provision and greater community cohesion.

Six key partners participated, with many other organisations supporting the project

WHAT WE TO ENABLE US TO DELIVER SUCH A BIG PROJECT SHERBORNE ARTSLINK EMPLOYED MANY APPROACHES – WE WORKED WITH PARTNERS, WE DELIVERED ACTIVITIES OURSELVES, WE JOIN COMMUNITY EVENTS & PROJECTS:

Work with Partners Partners helped us to reach our target families, enabled us to work with different age and social groups and was key to delivering a strong, embedded project which generated a legacy of youth cultural activity for the future.

Sherborne Youth Centre • Focus on Youth – a summer holiday arts programme • Evening youth club activity enhancement • Kaleidoscope programme for young people close to, or excluded from mainstream education • Outreach bus for young people living in rural locations • Building the Art Cabin

“The impact of our partnership work with Takepart has been immense. We have built up a very productive relationship which has benefitted young people, many of whom are viewed as hard to reach. Feedback from young people shows evidence of increased confidence and also enjoyment. Takepart has enriched our targeted group work programme enabling us to use specialist art and drama therapists to explore issues affecting young people. It has also provided us with the varied summer activities programme and made it accessible to low income families” Youth Centre Manager

Sherborne Children’s Centre • Creative Explorers, weekly activity group for under 5’s and their carers • Art for Parents, weekly art & craft support group • Family engagement days “It gets us out the house, we new people and it allows George to interact with other children.

Georges’ confidence when meeting new people has improved.” Parent at Creative Explorers

The RendezVous • Group reading • Music sessions • Dance sessions • Creative Media project • Festive Shopping Day activities “A fun way for young people to express themselves and explore issues.”

Community Development at The Gryphon School • Saturday Morning Art Club • Creation of the Sherborne Mural “I am going to use my pizza base to do printing at home – I’ve learnt how easy it is!”

9 year old participant at the Saturday Morning Art Club

DID Sherborne Centre for Wellbeing • Reading groups for children who find the written word challenging “My daughter is so keen on reading now that she prefers it to anything else! She has grown in reading confidence and loves books so much; it is all down to her coming to the Story Club. I also really enjoy it.” Parent of child referred to the Story Club

Sherborne Learning Centre • Cultural trips to London • Creative activities “It was a fantastic calming activity for the students, one of whom has the potential to arrive with us quite 'bouncy'. Two of the students have poor, peer social skills and it helped them to feel relaxed in a group, to converse whilst having something to concentrate on” Sherborne Learning Centre Staff

Sherborne ArtsLink delivered TakepArt Easter & Summer holiday activity programmes “This was the best session of the summer holidays. If this wasn’t on I would still be in bed!”

10 year old attending summer theatre club Arts Buffets, family art and craft sessions during school holidays “This is so much fun it should be called the Heart Buffet” 8 year old attendee Drama Club, weekly club for 6 – 15 year olds “My son has much more focus in school and has gained more confidence.

His concentration has improved” Parent of a 7 year old attending the Drama Club ArtsLink Annual Summer Show, exhibition, performance and art activities “I can’t believe how proud it made me seeing my work on display; I never thought I could do that” Participant on showing their art work for the first time

TakepArt Summer Theatre School with Action Track Performance Company “This is my forth year. I started off quite timid and shy and I feel TakepArt has helped me grow in confidence in day to day life, and also as an actress. The people who run it are incredibly talented and inspiring. I have made some lifelong friends. It is so much fun and always my favourite production.” Student attending the week long summer theatre school, aged 17 Saturday Family Art sessions “Fantastic! It was lovely to be a participant rather than just a mummy on the side lines for once!”

Internships and volunteer experience 24 youth volunteers – helped to build the Art Cabin, delivered Arts Buffets, holiday programmes and special events, hosted at the ArtsLink Summer Show and supported the weekly TakepArt Drama Club.

“In a world where young people are getting such mixed publicity, older generations not respecting what they think and vice versa, it is nice to be listened to, considered and encouraged to be involved.”

Adam joined us in March 2015 for a 6 month internship. Destination: permanent post at Birchfield Primary School

“Every step of the way I have felt supported by everyone and it is because of this support network that I have left with such positive feeling and result.”

Rea joined us in May 2016 for a 4 month internship. Destination: permanent post at Kingston Maurwood College

“Honestly, I would not have got an interview without this internship and the help you gave me.”

Community events which TakepArt staged or contributed to: • The Big Draw 2011/2012 • Diamond Jubilee Celebrations June 2012, including the TakepArt Flags of Celebration Project • Art Extravaganza in Paddock Gardens Sept 2013 • Annual Fete in Pageant Gardens Sept 2014 • Live children’s dance theatre with Travelling Light Theatre Company June 2014 • Relaxed film screenings April 2015 and April 2016 • Queen Elizabeth 90th Celebrations in Pageant Gardens 2016

• Douzelage International Young Musician of the Year 2014/2016 • Sherborne Literary Festival 2014 • Amateur Players of Sherborne Royal Shakespeare Live Youth Production 2014 • Festive shopping day and Cheap Street Church Christmas Tree Festival every year “Thank you for the film showing of Paddington Bear it was great and I was proud of my little Clara who has Downs syndrome. She sat and watched it all, it was the first time for her at a cinema showing” Mum at Relaxed Film Screening April 2015

Special Projects Building the Art Cabin

The Sherborne Mural

Using sustainable practises, recycled tyres, straw bales, wood and a living roof TakepArt created a new space suitable for use as an educational and meeting venue for the Youth Centre and local community. It was built by Huff and Puff Construction with help, support and muscle power from local community volunteers, including young people, individuals, groups and businesses. You will find this, our most ambitious TakepArt project, nestling in the grounds of Tinney’s Lane Youth Centre, Sherborne.

Sited in the centre of the town, this mural depicts the history of Sherborne from 700AD to the present day in dramatic, colourful images. TakepArt both provided funding for, and played a major practical role in, the creation of this large scale piece of public art. We supported this community project by joining the steering committee, hosting public painting sessions and funding street artist Peter Sheridan to support the project through to a professional completion.

Imp The last five years have underlined the positive effect which taking part in creative activities can have on individuals and groups within our community.

TakepArt has engaged hundreds of young people, children and families in many different projects. Many benefits and changes have taken place - these are some of the reported impacts: • Participants self-confidence and self-esteem have improved • Nervous young people have become performers • Risk taking behaviours have been reduced • School attendance has improved, and so have exam results • Increased happiness has been expressed • New friendships have been made • Talents have been celebrated and a sense of pride expressed • New skills have been acquired • Family and community relationships have improved • The Sherborne Mural enhances the town • A new building, the straw bale Art Cabin, is available for the community to use

acts Whilst achieving real, positive change in the lives of those taking part we also had lots of fun along the way!

“My daughter had a really lovely time, after a nervous start she was made to feel very welcome and has come away with a wonderful puppet” Parent of child attending TakepArt Summer activities

“This group has once again done amazing things – they have embraced each activity and are beginning to take more interest in adapting the activities to create even more unique pieces across the group. We have offered emotional support to those who have needed it and provided a place to unwind, to put the daily troubles to one side and be creative. This is an invaluable space for all members of this group” Tutor of the Art for Parents group

Lega -what next?

It is important to both Sherborne ArtsLink and the Big Lottery that the benefits from TakepArt have a lasting impact.

ArtsLink will fund or seek new funding to continue:

Physical legacies for all to use and enjoy:

• Arts Buffets

• The Art Cabin at Sherborne Youth Centre

• Art for Parents • Summer Theatre School – extended to offer youth theatre leader training The following activities will continue under the management of partners or tutors: • Creative Explorers – Sherborne Children’s Centre • Drama Club – Sue Huggins • Story Club – Sherborne Primary School

• The Sherborne Mural Individuals For many individuals the changes which have taken place as a result of their participation in TakepArt has had a transformational impact on their lives. Taking part has increased their confidence making them willing to try new things and more able to cope with challenges; new friendships have been made; personal ambition and self-esteem has increased along with improved exam results increasing their opportunities in life.

cy Employability The internships and youth volunteer opportunities have increased skills and experiences, secured references and enhanced cv’s, improving employability.

Partnerships Partners have connected or increased their connection with other organisations in Sherborne, enabling them to work together to support the on-going needs of the community.

Families For families, participating together has provided a vehicle for listening, sharing ideas and working together, strengthening family bonds.

Community Collective participation in group and community events has improved the sense of belonging and community cohesion.

“An amazing experience! I can’t thank you enough”

We could not have done this alone

! u o y k n a h T We could not have done this alone

to everyone who supported TakepArt. You have all contributed to making positive change for people within our community.

We send out a big cheer of thanks to all: • Tutors • Volunteers • Partner organisations and their staff • Members of local clubs and societies • Local businesses • The community and all individuals who took part The TakepArt project was managed by Project Co-ordinator Jennie Loader, with the support of the ArtsLink staff team and Trustees.

Finally, a huge thank you to the Big Lottery for funding this amazing opportunity.

The Manor House, Newland Sherborne DT9 3JG 01935 815899 www.sherborneartslink.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1007680 Company No. 2471382