Radhika Bynon (CF 2006) from London is Partnership Advisor at Mode London, an online community radio station which is popular among young people, particularly from minoritised ethnic communities. During the pandemic the station has been working with local schools to engage young people in creative opportunities who otherwise would not have access to them.

Radhika will use her grant to build on this work and develop a programme of free opportunities for local teenagers to learn DJ’ing and graphic design, led by colleagues and partners at Mode London. The programme will deliver 12 sessions in DJ’ing, sound tech and graphic design, for up to 20 young people from local schools in Tottenham. The funding will also be used to equip the workshop leaders with safeguarding and mental health first aid training, as well as with the materials they will need to run the sessions. The programme will culminate in an event, bringing together the participants to showcase their new skills and talents to friends, family and the wider community. Radhika hopes the programme will provide a safe space for these young people to explore their creativity, nurture talent, build confidence and develop community with their peers.

Radhika’s Fellowship to Rwanda and Tanzania in 2006 explored volunteering opportunities in Africa.

Jo Hemmant (CF 2007) from London is Executive Director of Hackney Empire, an arts and entertainment venue in East London. Now in its 120th year, the venue has a track record of working with under-represented groups, many of whom have lost out on opportunities to develop careers in the creative industries during the pandemic.

Jo will use the grant to create and deliver a bespoke programme at Hackney Empire for young artists from under-represented backgrounds to gain vital training, personal and professional development, and access to paid work. The programme will involve an intensive week-long course led by leading arts professionals, to develop vocational and creative skills. This will be followed by an eight-week long facilitator training programme, to enable the artists to pass on their skills and learning to other young artists. They will then have the opportunity to become paid peer mentors or youth practitioners in Hackney Empire’s summer programmes. The programme will be developed in collaboration with the young artists themselves, to ensure it responds directly to their needs. With the grant, Jo hopes to develop a programme model that can be rolled out to other arts organisations across the UK, to help broaden representation and opportunity in the creative sector.

Jo’s Fellowship to Australia in 2007 explored strategies for disabled and deaf theatre artists.