Performing arts course set to boost opportunities for young people in care developed in Bucks

A pioneering new initiative, developed in Buckinghamshire, is set to change the landscape for young people in care across the UK.

The Share Foundation, in partnership with Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and the Rothschild Foundation, has announced the launch of Stepping Forward — an innovative, nationwide online performing arts course that aims to offer life-changing opportunities for some of the most vulnerable youth in the country.

The project, targeting care-experienced young people aged 13-17, provides an accessible introduction to the performing arts, fostering and boosting confidence and creativity.

By doing so, it offers these young people a chance to see the arts not only as an outlet but also as a potential career pathway, a future that may have previously felt out of reach.

Gavin Oldham, Chair of Trustees at The Share Foundation, said: "The performing arts are special in their ability to combine enjoyment, opportunity, and a positive experience of social relationships — all key antidotes to the insecurity and despair faced by many young people in care."

Young people in care often face barriers that are difficult to overcome, which can leave them feeling isolated or excluded from traditional opportunities.

Stepping Forward seeks to break these barriers by providing a creative, safe space for them to explore the arts.

The programme, which includes a series of six online courses, features contributions from leading figures in the performing arts, such as Emeka Sesay (Top Boy), Zoe Lister (Hollyoaks), and Mo Jamil (The Voice UK), offering inspiration and real-world examples of success in the industry.

Simon Larter-Evans, Principal of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, said: "We've seen that that confidence building is hugely enhanced if you can get involved in performing arts in a practical way, so we thought about lots of different ways we might do that. And this is really only the starting point.

"If you can show that the arts are there, absolutely for everybody, and there's a way in somewhere, that can be genuinely life changing."

The project has been in development since mid-2023, with input from a focus group of care-experienced young people and an advisory group chaired by Andy Wright OBE.

The initiative goes beyond offering a creative outlet; it connects participants to performing arts education organisations across the country and offers a potential route to the wider arts industry.

Unlike traditional programs, Stepping Forward is designed to address the specific needs of these young people, who may be apprehensive or unfamiliar with the arts.

The course is crafted to be inclusive and interactive, inviting participants to explore local arts opportunities in a non-confrontational manner.

Eline van der Velden, CEO of Particle6, the media company producing the course, said: "We believe in the power of creativity to transform lives. The performing arts bring joy, build confidence, and offer hope to anyone, and we’re proud to contribute to this important initiative."

Backed by a £260,000 investment from the Rothschild Foundation and Charities Aid Foundation, the program is set to launch in early 2025.

With plans to expand nationally, the course will be available through local authorities, connecting young people to performing arts education resources in their area.