Bolton Council
Tapping Into Talent - Powering Up Passion
Our Location and Context
Over the past ten years Bolton has been transformed into a vibrant and dynamic city “in waiting” and is now recognised as the second fastest growing investor destination in the Manchester City region with up to 20,000 jobs in the pipeline – a significant proportion of which will be in the creative sector.Transforming this economic growth into better outcomes for local people is a top priority.
Our Partners
Bolton Council- Children’s Services, Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Bolton Museum and Archive Service, Bolton Libraries, Halle Orchestra, Specialist Schools, Bolton Music Service, The Octagon Theatre (Activ8), Artists in Schools, Business Bolton, Bolton University, Bolton Phoenix Arts Group
Our Motivations
It is because Bolton is a borough at the forefront of rapid growth and social change that we need all our young people to have high aspirations for themselves and their families and to develop transferable skills necessary to achieve their full potential. Through this pilot we hope to create an abundant pool of creative young leaders who are culturally productive, culturally aware, culturally knowledgeable and culturally literate, ready to enter careers in creative industry and to do jobs that have yet to be developed or invented.
Our Young People
39.6% children and young people in Bolton live in the 20% most deprived areas in the country. Lower educational attainment and skill levels in the more deprived areas of the Borough mean that on average we are lower than elsewhere. The numbers of teenage pregnancies and young people not in employment, education and training are both significantly high compared to other areas.
Our Programme
Adapting the well established school sports partnership model we will create geographical Cultural Partnerships, through which the five hour entitlement will be accessible by all young people in Bolton within and beyond normal school hours. Activity will be listed in categories following a Cultural Development Continuum. Quite simply, it’s about the dynamic, creative, expert, passionate and forward thinking people involved in developing and delivering Bolton’s pilot. Our proven track record of partnership working and trailblazing approach to young people’s participation mean that our local partnerships and cultural delivery team are the strongest and most passionate in the country.
Our Outcomes
Early suggestions for indicators of success include: All schools in Bolton engage with external providers; every school in Bolton has an identified member of staff responsible for culture; take up of the new Creative and Media Diploma and other creative qualifications; young people performing or displaying their art in public places; increased attendance at cultural venues; and increase of young people completing participation awards. We hope to create an improved cultural network of providers and better opportunities for influencing policy decisions about services to Young People.