Creative YOUCreativity is everywhere. Opportunity is not. We are part of the solution. The secret is in our name. Every year Creative Youth Network gives thousands of young people a taste and thirst for the arts and culture and the joy, life-skills and opportunity they bring. But we want more. Creative YOU is our campaign showcasing how we, you and the engaged, emerging and amazing young creatives we support, come together. We want to reveal how, together, we are ambition, quality, cultural democracy and social mobility in action. Every young person deserves the right to access creativity and development opportunities in the creative and cultural industries. It all starts with education. If all young people have access to creative subjects in school, then talented young people from all backgrounds can pursue their passion, develop crucial skills needed in so many industries and improve their wellbeing. 1. Pledge Add your name and join the many people passionate about bringing creativity back into our schools. With all the pledges we’ll be reaching out to headteachers in Bristol and the South West. We hope this will encourage local academies to give more space to creativity in their curriculum. Bristol, being the creative city we know and love, can pave the way for other regions to do the same, showcasing the true value of creativity. PLEDGE 2. Sign up Join us by signing up to our newsletter where we share best practice of how to support young people. sign up 3. Find out more Join us by reading and sharing our CreativeYOU report which shows how our work brings opportunities for creative expression and enables young people to explore their talent, regardless of background or circumstance. Download our Creative YOU report National Youth Work Week 2022 From Monday 7th to Sunday 13th November is National Youth Work Week and the theme this year is 'A Festival of Youth Work'. This week celebrates youth workers and the work they contribute to the future generation. Youth work helps young people to learn about themselves, others and the society they live in. Youth Work empowers young people to explore their identity, experience decision-making and increase their confidence, all with the help and support of youth workers and organisations. Every month… We run over 130 youth sessions At 15 different youth clubs across Bristol & South Gloucestershire Supporting more than 600 young people on average With 91% of Young People saying they enjoy their time at our sessions Providing Safe and Welcoming Spaces Creative Youth Network is committed to providing safe spaces for young people, where they can feel relaxed, learn life skills and have fun – this is especially important when their home life is tough. We’re fortunate to have a fantastic selection of youth clubs across the region, but of course it’s our team of youth workers that turn these buildings into the welcoming and vibrant spaces where young people feel secure and sense of belonging: Sometimes all there is (at home) is arguing, it becomes too much. I’ve always felt safe at club, no one laughs at you if things go wrong, I feel the staff are always there for me. It’s such a special place for me, club have helped me so much, I love the discussions and the chance to find out so much. Youth Workers have given me so many opportunities, I feel so much better about myself, I definitely feel like I belong – Young Person from South Gloucestershire Parents and carers have praised our team of youth workers for the support they offer: They are an amazing team. Always so accommodating of my sons needs and wishes and make him feel really relaxed and happy. – Parent from South Gloucestershire Celebrating Our Youth Workers I’m really fortunate to work with a bunch of dedicated, talented and fun youth workers who are equally committed to supporting young people! – Micheal Waine | Targeted Youth Worker, Targeted Youth Service commissioned by Bristol City Council We are proud to have a fantastic team of youth workers across our organisation, who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young people. Whether it’s being a friendly face to have an informal chat with or supporting them in creative ventures and career opportunities, the support they provide in nurturing young people can be fundamental for a successful transition into adulthood. Michael Waine is a targeted youth worker and runs our weekly open access sessions at The Station. He explains his motivation as a youth worker: I got into youth work initially as a volunteer and then as a trainee. I knew the importance of support for young people and I’m confident that the best way to support someone is to come alongside them – youth work provides this opportunity! The best moments for me are when I meet a young person years after having worked with them and getting to see the progress they’ve made and their growth as an individual. Our Promise to Amplify Youth Voice This year the National Youth Agency is inviting organisations to make promises about something they will start doing, or keep doing for the youth work sector. Alongside all the day-to-day youth work and creative opportunities we offer, we have a strong commitment to empowering youth voice in meaningful ways. This includes having a dedicated Youth Voice Coordinator who works alongside young people to help them share their stories with the wider world. It's really important that young people's voices are at the centre of everything we do. I'm excited to see young people increasingly having their say on what we do as a youth organisation, and also having their say in society about what they want the world to look like and what they want to see change – Ellen Wilson | Youth Voice Coordinator This year Creative Youth Network has made a promise to empower even more young people by signing the Power of Youth Charter. We strive to amplify the voice of young people through our series of We the 33 events, which connect young people with key decision makers in the region. In 2022 we also aim to share young people’s stories with over 200,000 people through online channels, including articles and videos voicing their opinions and experiences. This work is crucial in creating a deeper understanding of what young people’s lives are like today, what matters to them, the challenges they face and how we can improve support systems to bring about effective change. Our aim over the coming year is to support more young people with media opportunities, so their messages can be shared to a wider audience through TV and radio appearances. Our young people have stressed the significance of having their voices heard, stating the importance of feeling respected and challenging stereotypical views: I think that conversations is where it should start – I think conversation is a great place to overcome stereotypes. – Mo | speaking at We the 33 panel on inequality We need to be listened to and respected as members of society and as queer people and this is non-negotiable.” – Chloe | speaking at We the 33 LGBTQ+ event Manage Cookie Preferences How can we help?