PROJECT REVIEW

Funded by the Big LotteryReaching Communities Fund.Conceived, delivered andmanaged by Sherborne Artslink.

TakepArt was an outcome ledproject which offered young people,children and families a programmeof creative activities and specialevents providing opportunities toenhance and improve their lives.TakepArt took place in Sherborne,Dorset from July 2011 to September2016, operating for 5 years and 6weeks.

WHY USE CREATIVEPARTICIPATION?Participation in cultural and creativeactivities has been shown togenerate improvements to personalwell-being, enhance self-esteem,increase confidence and generate asense of belonging and community.

It is a vehicle by which to improvethe quality of life, to celebratetalents, to build skills and experience,enhancing future prospects.

TakepArt focused on reachingchildren and young people in familieswho are less able to access activitiesdue to poverty, isolation or disability.

What was

about?

Working with Artslinkhas proved to beinvaluable and helps usto reach families usingdifferent, but new waysto show families howimportant art can be inexpressing emotions,communication anddiscussions as part of achild's continueddevelopmental process.

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Sherborne Children’sCentre Manager

Outcomes

The following project outcomeswere agreed with the Big Lottery.All were achieved:OUTCOME 1:500 plus children, aged 11and under, experiencingsocial and cultural isolation,gain skills and confidencethrough participation increative out of schoolactivities with their parentsand/or carers, each year ofthe project.

4793 participated in total

OUTCOME 2:100 young people aged12-25, categorised as ‘hardto reach’ gain skills andincreased confidencethrough participation increative learning activitiesout of main streameducation, each year of theproject.

1354 participated in total

OUTCOME 3:25 disadvantaged, vulnerable young peopleaged 15-25, develop their personal andvocational skills and self-confidence throughparticipating in volunteering activities, workexperience and training and developmentopportunities during the term of the project.

26 young people participated, including 2 internships

OUTCOME 4:A minimum of five local communityorganisations engage each year with the projectto develop and deliver programmes of user led,creative, participatory initiatives for children andyoung people in need, leading to expanded,accessible, quality service provision and greatercommunity cohesion.

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

Sherborne Children’sCentre• Creative Explorers,weekly activity groupfor under 5’s and theircarers

• Art for Parents, weeklyart & craft supportgroup

• Family engagementdays

“It gets us out the house,we new people and itallows George to interactwith other children.Georges’ confidence whenmeeting new people hasimproved.” Parent atCreative Explorers

The RendezVous• Group reading• Music sessions• Dance sessions• Creative Media project• Festive Shopping Dayactivities

“A fun way for youngpeople to expressthemselves and exploreissues.”

Community Developmentat The Gryphon School• Saturday Morning Art Club

• Creation of theSherborne Mural

“I am going to use my pizzabase to do printing at home– I’ve learnt how easy it is!”9 year old participant at theSaturday Morning Art Club

TO ENABLE US TO DELIVER SUCH A BIG PROJECT SHERBORNE ARTSLINKEMPLOYED MANY APPROACHES – WE WORKED WITH PARTNERS, WEDELIVERED ACTIVITIES OURSELVES, WEJOIN COMMUNITY EVENTS & PROJECTS:

WHAT WE

Work withPartnersPartners helped us to reachour target families, enabledus to work with different ageand social groups and waskey to delivering a strong,embedded project whichgenerated a legacy of youthcultural activity for thefuture.

Sherborne Youth Centre• Focus on Youth – asummer holiday artsprogramme

• Evening youth club activityenhancement

• Kaleidoscope programmefor young people close to,or excluded frommainstream education

• Outreach bus for youngpeople living in rurallocations

• Building the Art Cabin

“The impact of ourpartnership work withTakepart has beenimmense. We have builtup a very productiverelationship which hasbenefitted youngpeople, many of whomare viewed as hard toreach. Feedback fromyoung people showsevidence of increasedconfidence and alsoenjoyment. Takepart hasenriched our targetedgroup work programmeenabling us to usespecialist art and dramatherapists to exploreissues affecting youngpeople. It has alsoprovided us with thevaried summer activitiesprogramme and made itaccessible to lowincome families”

Youth Centre Manager

Arts Buffets, family artand craft sessionsduring school holidays

“This is so much fun itshould be called theHeart Buffet” 8 year oldattendee

Drama Club, weeklyclub for 6 – 15 year olds

“My son has much morefocus in school and hasgained more confidence.His concentration hasimproved” Parent of a 7year old attending theDrama Club

ArtsLink AnnualSummer Show,exhibition,performance and artactivities

“I can’t believe howproud it made me seeingmy work on display; Inever thought I could dothat” Participant onshowing their art workfor the first time

TakepArt Easter &Summer holidayactivity programmes

“This was the bestsession of the summerholidays. If this wasn’t onI would still be in bed!”10 year old attendingsummer theatre club

TakepArt SummerTheatre School withAction TrackPerformance Company

“This is my forth year. Istarted off quite timidand shy and I feelTakepArt has helped megrow in confidence inday to day life, and alsoas an actress. Thepeople who run it areincredibly talented andinspiring. I have madesome lifelong friends. Itis so much fun andalways my favouriteproduction.” Studentattending the week longsummer theatre school,aged 17

Saturday Family Artsessions

“Fantastic! It was lovelyto be a participant ratherthan just a mummy on theside lines for once!”

Sherborne Centrefor Wellbeing• Reading groupsfor children whofind the writtenword challenging

“My daughter is sokeen on reading nowthat she prefers it toanything else! Shehas grown in readingconfidence and lovesbooks so much; it isall down to hercoming to the StoryClub. I also reallyenjoy it.” Parent ofchild referred to theStory Club

SherborneLearning Centre• Cultural trips toLondon

• Creative activities

“It was a fantasticcalming activity forthe students, one ofwhom has thepotential to arrivewith us quite'bouncy'. Two of thestudents have poor,peer social skills andit helped them to feelrelaxed in a group,to converse whilsthaving something toconcentrate on”Sherborne LearningCentre Staff

DID SherborneArtsLink delivered

Internships andvolunteer experience24 youth volunteers – helped tobuild the Art Cabin, delivered ArtsBuffets, holiday programmes andspecial events, hosted at theArtsLink Summer Show andsupported the weekly TakepArtDrama Club.

“In a world where young people aregetting such mixed publicity, oldergenerations not respecting what theythink and vice versa, it is nice to belistened to, considered andencouraged to be involved.”

Adam joined us in March 2015 for a6 month internship. Destination:permanent post at BirchfieldPrimary School

“Every step of the way I have feltsupported by everyone and it isbecause of this support network that Ihave left with such positive feeling andresult.”

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

“Honestly, I would not have got aninterview without this internship andthe help you gave me.”

Communityevents whichTakepArtstaged orcontributed to:• The Big Draw2011/2012

• Diamond JubileeCelebrations June2012, including theTakepArt Flags ofCelebrationProject

• Art Extravaganzain PaddockGardens Sept 2013

• Annual Fete inPageant GardensSept 2014

• Live children’sdance theatrewith TravellingLight TheatreCompany June2014

• Relaxed filmscreenings April2015 and April2016

• Queen Elizabeth90th Celebrationsin PageantGardens 2016

• DouzelageInternationalYoung Musician ofthe Year2014/2016

• Sherborne LiteraryFestival 2014

• Amateur Playersof SherborneRoyalShakespeare LiveYouth Production2014

• Festive shoppingday and CheapStreet ChurchChristmas TreeFestival every year

“Thank you for thefilm showing ofPaddington Bear itwas great and I wasproud of my littleClara who has Downssyndrome. She satand watched it all, itwas the first time forher at a cinemashowing” Mum atRelaxed FilmScreening April 2015

The Sherborne MuralSited in the centre of the town, thismural depicts the history of Sherbornefrom 700AD to the present day indramatic, colourful images. TakepArtboth provided funding for, and played amajor practical role in, the creation ofthis large scale piece of public art. Wesupported this community project byjoining the steering committee, hostingpublic painting sessions and fundingstreet artist Peter Sheridan to supportthe project through to a professionalcompletion.

Building the Art CabinUsing sustainable practises, recycledtyres, straw bales, wood and a livingroof TakepArt created a new spacesuitable for use as an educational andmeeting venue for the Youth Centre andlocal community. It was built by Huffand Puff Construction with help,support and muscle power from localcommunity volunteers, including youngpeople, individuals, groups andbusinesses. You will find this, our mostambitious TakepArt project, nestling inthe grounds of Tinney’s Lane YouthCentre, Sherborne.

SpecialProjects

The last five years have underlined the positive effect which taking part increative activities can have on individuals and groups within our community.TakepArt has engaged hundreds of young people, children and families inmany different projects. Many benefits and changes have taken place - theseare 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

Imp

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

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

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

acts

ArtsLink will fund or seek newfunding to continue:

• Arts Buffets

• Art for Parents

• Summer Theatre School – extendedto offer youth theatre leader training

The following activities will continueunder the management of partnersor tutors:

• Creative Explorers – SherborneChildren’s Centre

• Drama Club – Sue Huggins

• Story Club – Sherborne PrimarySchool

Physical legacies for all to use andenjoy:

• The Art Cabin at SherborneYouth Centre

• The Sherborne Mural

IndividualsFor many individuals the changeswhich have taken place as a result oftheir participation in TakepArt has hada transformational impact on theirlives. Taking part has increased theirconfidence making them willing to trynew things and more able to copewith challenges; new friendships havebeen made; personal ambition andself-esteem has increased along withimproved exam results increasing theiropportunities in life.

LegaIt is important to both SherborneArtsLink and the Big Lottery that thebenefits from TakepArt have a lastingimpact.

-what next?

EmployabilityThe internships and youth volunteeropportunities have increased skills andexperiences, secured references andenhanced cv’s, improving employability.

PartnershipsPartners have connected or increased theirconnection with other organisations inSherborne, enabling them to work together tosupport the on-going needs of thecommunity.

FamiliesFor families, participating together hasprovided a vehicle for listening, sharing ideasand working together, strengthening familybonds.

CommunityCollective participation in group andcommunity events has improved the sense ofbelonging and community cohesion.

cy

“An amazingexperience! I can’tthank you enough”

We could not have done this aloneThank you!We could nothave done thisalone

to everyone who supported TakepArt. You have all contributed to making positivechange 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 thesupport of the ArtsLink staff team and Trustees.

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

The Manor House, NewlandSherborne DT9 3JG01935 815899www.sherborneartslink.org.ukRegistered Charity No. 1007680 Company No. 2471382