Young Promoters

The Young Promoters Scheme takes children and young people through the process of becoming the promoters for an event in their community, offering a taste of all the behind the scenes work involved in organising an event.

How it works

Over a series of five/six weekly sessions, a project facilitator, working with a youth leader or class teacher, will lead the group or class through key elements: setting ticket prices and a start time for the show, designing posters, marketing and promotion, liaising with the performers, inviting VIPs, organising a raffle, and selling tickets.

On the night of the event the Young Promoters are in charge, manning the box office, showing audience members to their seats, making speeches and drawing the raffle. They make all the decisions and do all the work!

Learning from experience

This scheme is an ideal way to provide experiential learning and practical skills to children and young people. It benefits their self-confidence and improves the relationship between young people, their schools and their local community. Operating since 2005, the scheme has worked with hundreds of children and young people aged 7 to 18 throughout Wales, giving them the unique experience of organising and enjoying a performing arts event in their local hall.

Groups can have fun as part of a creative learning process and to develop personal, social and work related skills. When run in schools, the scheme can be used to deliver specific elements of the national curriculum because it includes aspects of literacy, ICT, mathematics, numeracy, art and design and event management. Young people are given a chance to be responsible, reliable, creative and trusted and to work within a team, making their individual contribution at a level with which they feel comfortable.

Community partnerships

The scheme also helps develop audiences by inviting local communities to attend performances. The groups promote the show and encourage their families, friends and neighbours to attend, giving them the opportunity to be involved in the project and experience something new and different.

Promoter groups based in schools enhance the pivotal role of schools within the community, engendering a community spirit among pupils and parents. The Scheme also provides access to high-quality live arts for communities, which is particularly important in rural areas and areas of social deprivation where facilities may be scarce.

Community Partnerships Schemes have successfully developed partnerships between different community groups - often linking local police, schools, businesses, development agencies, housing associations and community leaders.