Aimed at young people aged 14 to 25, the programmes focus on removing the barriers that may prevent young people from taking part in extra-curricular activities, gaining employment or volunteering.
The established Young Leaders + is a ninth-month programme designed for young people who want to make a difference in their community or gain work experience, but may need extra support due to learning needs, access requirements or other life events, such as being care experienced or a young carer themselves. Storyhouse has also introduced Creative Careers, Arts Ambassadors and Creative Collective.
387 young people who have taken part in the programmes have gone on to secure employment or volunteering roles – both at Storyhouse and other local organisations – with some of them now leading Young Leaders programmes, using their experience to support others.
Phoebe, who has been through the programme and now leads sessions, said: “It’s nice to have regulars who feel comfortable in the space and genuinely get stuck into things, whether it’s a really serious activity or something a bit silly.
“We do evaluation at the start of the programme and then we’ll do some near the end so, as well as seeing the physical or emotional differences in people, we can measure whether their confidence has changed or they’re able to be more social.”
Joe, Pastoral Support Lead, added: “We’ve seen people go from being Young Leaders to volunteering to having paid positions, whether that be in our team or other teams.
“We look at employability, interview skills, CV writing and a whole host of other skills so it’s really varied, plus all the other programmes we offer at Storyhouse.”
Max, another graduate of Young Leaders, commented: “I can help make sure Young Leaders is delivered in the best way possible and I’m part of that conversation now.
“I can’t stress how much I got out of it when I did it. I’d recommend anyone to give it a go as it has so much to offer.
“Storyhouse is such a welcoming environment, providing so many opportunities for you to thrive.”
Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) works with hundreds of community sector organisations like Storyhouse in Cheshire West, championing the sector and offering support with things like starting up and governance, training, funding, volunteer management and much more.
Alliances and partnerships run by CWVA also help bring together community sector organisations on different themes, such as mental health, children, young people and families, and food systems.
Storyhouse worked with CWVA to produce a social impact report on Young Leaders for 2023-24. Engaging 46 young leaders per year, the programme reduced isolation, helped people develop new skills and more, bringing a social return on investment of £2.94 for every £1 put in.
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