Young Westminster Foundation
Access to the arts for all
Westminster is home to 130 cultural establishments including more than 50 theatres. Yet most young people in the borough have little, if any, engagement with them. Young Westminster Foundation is changing this, working with theatres and youth groups to give local youngsters access to the life-enriching experiences that London’s arts and culture offers.
Our grant of £16,805 will make it possible for Young Westminster Foundation to connect young people in Westminster with the exciting world of West End theatre. Over 12 months, the pilot will offer theatre visits, workshops and work experience placements.
- Young Westminster Foundation brings together youth organisations, young people, businesses, Westminster City Council, government, schools, funders and the wider community.
- 142 youth clubs, charities and specialist organisations are members of Young Westminster Foundation.
- Our grant will help fund workshops, 4 work experience placements, and 300 theatre tickets for young people in Westminster.
Education through entertainment
Young Westminster Foundation is working with Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and Mousetrap Theatre Projects to give young people from three local youth clubs the opportunity to experience the theatre, develop skills and explore careers in the industry. Subsidised tickets will allow the clubs to run regular trips to see productions at ATG theatres. Each club will also get 100 free tickets for groups to see productions including The Lion King, Wicked and The Woman In Black. A group from each club will get a backstage tour for a behind-the-scenes look at a West End theatre.
Mousetrap Theatre Projects will run StageXChange, using London’s outstanding theatre scene to inspire young people to develop their own creative potential and a sense of cultural belonging. Mousetrap’s professional practitioners will deliver 12 weekly sessions focusing on building creativity, confidence and performance skills in each of the youth clubs. The tailor-made sessions might include communication skills, working as a group, life choices and confidence boosting. For youngsters inspired to follow a career in the theatre, four places will be made available on more in-depth work experience programmes young people from Westminster.
“The group have definitely become more confident and focused. Young people took part in this project who I never thought would get involved in drama! They’ve all really surprised me by how engaged they’ve been.”
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