Performing Arts Course to Inspire Young People in Care Across the UK
A new online performing arts course, “Stepping Forward,” is set to launch in early 2025, providing young people in care across the UK with an accessible introduction to the arts. The Share Foundation, in collaboration with Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and the Rothschild Foundation, has developed the course to benefit young people aged 13-17 by enhancing confidence, creativity, and career prospects.
The initiative, the first of its kind, aims to bridge educational and social gaps for some of the UK’s most disadvantaged young people. According to the Share Foundation, the performing arts have been shown to boost well-being and foster resilience, particularly for those in the care system. By offering skills that can support confidence and self-esteem, the course is designed to prepare young people for challenges in adulthood.
The six-step video course features performances from well-known actors and artists, including Emeka Sesay of Top Boy and The Power, Zoe Lister of Hollyoaks and The Worst Witch, Heart Radio presenter Pandora Christie, The Voice UK winner Mo Jamil, and soprano Jennifer France. Through these familiar faces, the programme seeks to demonstrate the range of possibilities within the performing arts industry and inspire care-experienced young people to explore their potential.
In tandem with The Share Foundation’s Stepladder Plus life skills programme, which offers online life-skills training to young people in care, “Stepping Forward” aims to connect participants with further local resources in the arts. The course also supports national and local organisations in care and education, including The Big House, Care to Dance, and the National Association of Virtual School Heads.
Gavin Oldham, Chair of Trustees at The Share Foundation, expressed his hopes for the programme: “The performing arts are unique in their ability to bring enjoyment and offer new opportunities for positive social experiences — key ingredients in tackling the feelings of isolation and uncertainty that many young people in care experience. This course will not only offer access to the arts but also complement our Stepladder Plus programme, empowering care leavers with confidence as they transition into adulthood.”
The Share Foundation worked closely with Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and media company Particle6 to develop the programme. Scripts and filming were completed with input from a focus group of care-experienced young people and an advisory board chaired by Andy Wright OBE, Trustee for West Midlands Children in Care Foundation. Simon Larter-Evans, Principal of Tring Park, remarked: “This course is a testament to our shared dedication to making the performing arts accessible to all. It’s the start of something special.”
A feasibility study led by Lucy Perman MBE and Imogen Ashby, supported by £260,000 in funding from the Rothschild Foundation and a Charities Aid Foundation Donor Advised Fund, has backed the project’s development.
Eline van der Velden, CEO of Particle6, added: “The performing arts inspire hope and confidence. Through this course, we hope to spark a passion for the arts in care-experienced young people and open doors for their futures.”
The course will be made available through local authorities across the UK. For more information, visit sharefound.org/steppingforward.
