The 10 Pathfinders
141 Expressions of Interest (EOI) were submitted to be pathfinders for the Find Your Talent pilot programme. Of these, ten EOIs were selected by a National Development Group, Stakeholder Group and Ministers to become the Find Your Talent pathfinders. These are:
- Bolton
- Customs House (North and South Tyneside)
- Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) (serving specific areas in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton)
- Leeds
- Leicester Shire (Young Ambassadors)
- Liverpool City Region (serving three Merseyside neighbourhoods)
- North Somerset
- Shepway (serving Shepway District and including Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh)
- Telford and Wrekin
- Tower Hamlets
The 10 pathfinder projects for the Find Your Talent Programme came together on the 18th June 2008 to begin planning for the pilot programme. Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families joined representatives from the 10 pathfinders to discuss the way forward. Two students from Morpeth Secondary School asked the ministers some poignant questions about their expectations for the programme.
Discussions also took place between the pathfinders and a range of national arts and cultural organisations on how best to collaborate and build partnerships during the programme.
The Find Your Talent programme will be launched in the 10 areas between Sunday 21st and Tuesday 23rd September.