Museums in Norfolk are providing unemployed young people in Norfolk the opportunity to improve their skills and enhance their employment prospects with the support of Renaissance funding.
As a result of the Women in History film project in Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service three young people are now enrolled in college to start in September 2010 - two of them are going to study media. Two have just started working and one young girl, who suffers badly from panic attacks, is now interested in volunteering and she is working on future projects within the museum.
Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service has been working closely with Connexions Kings Lynn, Children and Community Services and the College of West Anglia.
Marie Kennedy, the Museum service's Community Outreach Officer (Western Area) outlined the project as, "A six week project was run in partnership with Connexions King's Lynn to get a group of young people, who were neither in employment, education or training, (NEETs) to engage with three museums in Norfolk: Town House museum in King's Lynn, the Ancient House museum of Thetford Life and Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse."
Marie met with Connexions and then talked to all of their personal advisers who spoke to all the young people. She then met with the young people individually to sell them the idea of the course. Young people were consulted on an ongoing basis throughout the project – they actually developed it once they were recruited. They also wrote all the scripts, did all filming, acted and directed.
As one participant described the experience, "The project was good because it was something productive to do and had an outcome (i.e. a Norfolk Youth Award and a reference) to help me get into college. I was nervous about going to college and meeting new people, but it has had me feel more confident. I was feeling quite down when the project began so it helped me get out of the house rather than sitting at home dwelling."
Another participant found that through the project and by working closely with others they had a greater acceptance of others: "I've learnt that even though I disagree with someone I can still control myself and the way I am. It's really made me feel more positive about myself and about that I do have some skills inside me that I do know. I've learnt how to tolerate people, because I did go to a college where there were a lot of people that I didn't really get on with. But I've learnt now how to control the way I am."
From these positive outcomes the museum service has now built a strong partnership with the college of West Anglia. The college has commissioned the museum to continue running the projects. Being involved with the college of West Anglia has meant that the museum gets some additional funding. It is also another support network for those working with young people. The young people also qualify for the EMA – Education Maintenance Allowance - as long they turn up to each session.
Seven of the eight young people are coming back to take part in the next project which they are planning themselves. The project will focus on King's Lynn in the World War II. They are creating a film based on stories featured in the new Western Area WWII exhibition, their film will be part of the final display; a prospect the group are very excited about. This part of the project has been commissioned by the College of West Anglia as part of their NEET programme. And, in the future the museum hopes to run two courses specifically for NEETs per year.
For more information on this case study visit the MLA research website