Programme

Whilst activities at the Garage are fun

, they are also educational and this key to our approach. With our help, young people improve their transferable skills such as confidence, leadership and teamwork as well as their artistic skills as they take part in our work.  We offer a range of levels of activity that help them to see the improvements they have made, each has the opportunity of accreditation through Arts Awards at level 1,2 or 3. The Garage offers a fun, innovative and engaging educational opportunity that has proven to help re-engage, enthuse and support young people to access further education, employment or training as well as develop creative and artistic skills.  

The structure that we use to help us to plan and deliver our work has three elements, Access, Creative Drive and Pathways. It enables young people to progress through a range of projects at different levels, each increasing in responsibility and designed to help them build up the skills they need to become young artists and arts leaders.  

We believe that young people should not only guide the development of our activities, but also play a pivotal role in their delivery and management. Therefore we listen to what young people tell us and help them to make it happen. Young people learn about project management, fundraising, budgeting, marketing, box office, production and administration to compliment their arts practise. This leadership development helps young people to gain real, hands on experience that will help them with their future education and career, whether that is in a creative field or something completely different.

There is no set ‘journey' through The Garage and each young person will join us at the level relevant to their own experience and expectations and will progress through activities until  they are ready to take their next steps, perhaps onto specialist training with one of our partners, enrolment at college or elsewhere.

To find out more about our programme, download our "Young People First" brochure (PDF format).

‘This project has made me feel a little bit more grown-up as I have been given a job to do in this [marketing] team and I want to give it my best.' Participant