Creative RoEL ModELs YW leading Change

Creative RoEL ModELs : Youth Workers Leading Change

Foundation for Future London EVALUATION & REVIEW Report 2024/25

SEEit Working Trust is a registered charity (no. 1071987). We support wider access to creative education and learning. We create new pathways so more inclusive cohorts benefit from the (self)employment, investment, talent & personal development, well-being, and creative thinking opportunities the cultural/creative sector offers.

The Foundation for Future London funding was originally January – December 2024. However, this was most definitely a learning and development programme and we were allowed to extend activities until December 2025.

The RoEL ModELs’ approach addresses the lack of knowledge of, and access to, quality and relevant creative experiences and progression opportunities for marginalised young people in East London by creating new, sustainable pathways for communities who have historically faced barriers to accessing mainstream knowledge, benefits, resources and opportunities.

Outputs:

People gaining access paid work experience/internships. 2

People gaining access to jobs 11

Participation in career workshops and related learning offers 58

Freelance and entrepreneur set up, development & training 7

Bespoke career and higher education path support 58

Training and secondments, employment and access to next level careers 2

One to one careers and relevant coaching/ mentoring 22

Outcomes:

Increased employability of participants – youth workers, creatives and young people
Increased capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship
Increased diversity in the creative/entrepreneurial sector in the boroughs
More diverse audiences engaged with the cultural sector
Participants acting as agents of change within the local community
Organisations integrate creative approaches within their projects, careers development and recruitment

Participants also

gained sector- specific and/or creative skills
grew their networks and awareness of local opportunities
gained confidence in their potential and self-initiative

2024 and 2025 Foundation for Future London Funding Supported Activities

1 STRATEGIC / Organisation Development

Re-branding SEEit Working Trust : Collaborative Community-Led Think & Do Tank

DIY Social Change : on-going
- Through research and development we seek to better connect mainstream organisations and marginalised communities to collaboratively and more equitably address social, economic and environmental issues that affect us all.
Development of the work that we have been doing within this observation and research arena, that is truly community-led, innovative and dedicated to delivering real-life social change
Organisation & Programme Development Project RoELs, Career RoELs and Social Soil with Katy (chair) and feedback from David (Environment Trustee)
Includes new partnerships to access research and innovation funding around issues identified through the work of the RoEL ModEL and Social Soil initiatives
Developing our MELI system (monitoring, evaluation, learning & Impact)
- Community engagement platform
- Info database
Looking for a strategic mentor to help us
Looking for new accountant to help us review our financial strategy and procedures

Updating Website

1.2 London College of Communication 2024 - Part 1: Day in the Life of a Youth Worker

Student End of Year2 Exhibition Material : Exhibition May 2024

Research & Development Project

“Making Youth Work Visible”

1.3. Participating in ACE/London Youth Research : Roundtables

During this time ACE had some challenges around applications’ process, and their funding stategy for supporting the youth sector. This meant we had to put our funding application to ACE on hold, but we were invited to participate in the ACE/LY research project roundtables. As you can see there is a lot of synergy with our RoEL ModELs approach although we are a few steps ahead

2 PROGRAMMES

Creative RoEL ModELs : Youth Workers Leading Change

The Creative RoEL© ModELs - Rules of Engagement & Learning - address the lack of knowledge of, and access to, quality creative experiences and progression pathways for marginalised young people.

Most Young People’s cultural/creative engagement is through institutions like school and even though this has increased, it has not brought about a transformative level of personal development and social benefit, nor diversity and representation in the cultural/creative sector. We champion a non-institutional inclusion framework using youth workers as a pathway that can bring about that transformation.

Youth Workers are key gatekeepers to marginalised communities. Creatives can provide quality creative experiences with progression. We advocate that creatives and youth workers should collaborate. Together they are well-placed to provide and support sustainable access to, engagement with, and progression pathways into the cultural/creative sector – through projects and careers opportunities.

Creative RoEL© ModELs better connect youth workers and creatives to deliver more meaningful cultural engagement in marginalised communities and highlight the value of youth work in the process.

2.1 Project RoELs

Further development of Informal learning sessions aiming to better connect youth workers and creatives to co- deliver more impactful creative experiences for young people aged 7-19.

Paid co-design sessions with youth workers and creatives to build knowledge and networks, and enable youth workers to prepare the young people for the project, support them and the creatives during the project and continue support post-project - treating them more like teachers. The youth workers and creatives will explore a funded youth project using 7 themes, to collaboratively agree start date, content, delivery and evaluation:

knowledge of sectors and project
access to youth and industry
engagement of young people for the project
participation of young people in the project
learning for the young people, youth workers and creatives – aims, monitoring, evaluation, learning & Impact
progression pathways for the young people, youth workers and creatives
legacy for the community, youth sector and creative/cultural sector

Further development has been on-going to work strategically and with funders to clarify delivery framework to create the scalable model

2.1.1 CondéFuture London Pilot : A Project RoEL

Development from September 2024 (Delivery August 2025). We started developing a partnership with Condé Nast to pilot a youth engagement project in London – as part of a collaboration between Taking Shape Association, Be Heard As One, SEEit Working Trust, The Peter Marlow Foundation.

The CondéFuture London pilot is a genuine collaboration between community-led and mainstream arts and media organisations to create quality, relevant, creative education and employment opportunities with progression pathways for young people in marginalised communities. It focuses on developing more accessible and inclusive media and publishing industries by integrating an innovative careers pathway, working with Youth Workers on recruitment, mentoring and ongoing support. This project supports the following:

Increased diversity in the UK’s media and publishing industries
Increased access to media and publishing employment for young people from East London
Increased knowledge for Youth Workers in East London about the routes into employment in the media and publishing for the young people they are supporting
Increased representation of stories and creativity from East London in the UK’s media and publishing

CondéFuture is a program that seeks to nurture future generations of creative talent globally, with hands-on training and skills focussed education. This project began as an NYC-based pilot in 2021, targeting students from communities historically underrepresented in media through a weekly, two-year long skill focussed enrichment and mentorship program led by Condé’s staff. Condé Nast were looking for a partner for their UK chapter of the programme and hearing about the Manor Park Media project and “Creative RoEL ModELs” approach, both funded by FFL, were keen to partner.

TIMELINE

September 2024 – March 2025

Developing a partnership with Condé Nast and developing CondeFuture Summer Camp

April - May 2025

Planning around safeguarding, policy etc, RoEL sessions with the whole project team, Training of Youth Work leads on Conde Nast and publishing industry and criteria for programme. Training for Conde Nast and Creatives on working with young people.

June - July 2025

Recruitment of young people and offers.

August 2025

We used the Project RoEL approach in developing the CondéFuture London Pilot and in the preparation day with Condé Nast London Office Mentors, before we started working with the young people.

Informal Discussion with the CondeFuture London Team

Introductions
The young people we’ll be working with
Expectations from the team: Creative, Mentors, Youth Workers
Think about progression pathways for the young people
And the legacy – being in Forest Gate Youth Zone will help you understand that this project will have an impact on the community not just the individual. And, that we will be able to continue working in this way to develop and roll out a wider CondeFuture London from 2026

Delivery of 10 days of workshops, field trips, creative sessions, mentoring, homework assignments, and presentations

September-December 2025

Evaluation & reflection

January -February 2026

Planning CondeFuture 2026 for May/June

OUTCOMES

Participants gained technical/sector- specific and/or creative skills
Participants gained essential skills
Participants gained confidence in their potential and self-initiative
Participants are better equipped to process difficult emotions
Participants are equipped to act as agent of change in their boroughs
Organisations exposed to creative approaches to wellbeing
Supported increased diversity in the creative/entrepreneurial sector in the boroughs
Supported more diverse audiences engaged with the cultural sector
Participants act as agents of change within the local community
Organisations integrate creative approaches within their projects
Increased employability of participants
Increased capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship
Participants act as agents of change within the local community

2.2 Screen RoELs

Following successful pilot initiatives in 2023/24 with Youth Workers in East London, ScreenSkills, Film London, 60Forty Films, Taking Shape Association, and Fully Focused Training Organisation, we can evidence a new model for career pathways into the HETV industry.

The evidence and learnings from the pilot show this model is scalable, economically viable and can be delivered not only in other London Boroughs, but also regionally and in other home nations. This is done through developing partnerships with Youth Workers, Councils, Industry Support Organisations, and Production Companies, to deliver 'Screen Rules of Engagement Learning (RoELs)' sessions to young people 16+ to give them an awareness of what non-institutional career pathways are possible for them into the TV industry, and working with young people 18+ to give them access to and support in real industry opportunities

Working to upskill youth workers with knowledge of and access to Careers in Screen Industries, to support engagement of talented young people from marginalised neighbourhoods, and to give young people accessible, quality, relevant opportunities with progression pathways:

Entry level (foot in the door)
- work and freelance
- training / work experience
Min/no qualifications required
Work Ready Skills & Experience (WRYSE) competencies preferred
Paid

2.2.1 Key Activities, Outcomes & Learnings in 2024

1 Screen Skills Traineeships – following Screen RoELs Pilot #1

Annual National programme
End of 2023/24 year, 3 young people were successful to receive a year-long programme of training, networking and job opportunities
April 2024 success = 2 production jobs with 60Forty Films:
- one in Locations
- one in Accounts

2 Screen RoELs Pilot #2

Working with 60Forty Films, Film London and Barking & Dagenham Council’s Film Team

Teams: 17 individuals involved
- SEEit Working Trust: 2
- Taking Shape Association: 2
- 60Forty/production: 8
- B&D Film: 3
- Film London: 3

2.1 Barking & Dagenham Film team : 2 day Location Marshal Bootcamp training

X1 Youth Worker Information session
- 3 youth workers

- what a boot camp is:

for young people 18+ interested in work, or a career
what the young people can expect : c25 people, delivered by Industry with support from you, based at B&D Studios
2 days, covering locations Marshal role : etiquette, using radio, contracts, timesheets, using generators etc
Who you are looking for – WRYSE competencies, enthusiasm, team work, on time etc
What the application process is – go through the questions
How you can support the youth workers/young people post bootcamp
Dates and follow up – including B&D trained pool for productions to access

X1 Thurs 13th & 14th June – Location Marshall Bootcamp
- 3 youth workers attended
- 4 young people applied
- 3 young people attended training

2.2 Signal SET Programme : 3 x cohorts of paid 2 week training and jobs for total of 30 young people

cohort #1 June 2024

covered in Bootcamp session

cohort #2 July/August/September 2024

Youth worker General Session : 14 youth workers interested, 7 attended

Knowledge, opportunity and Access so youth workers, training organisation and production companies can work together to support young people through process and transition into complex Film/HETV industry.
the session enables youth workers to gain a better understanding of not only the roles that are available but also important dates and how we will move forward.
Talent development so young people know what is involved, so not a blanket recruitment.
Youth Worker Feedback: “…was great overall and they are super happy with the opportunity for the YP. They said it was a lot of information to digest (I coming from the people who missed the zoom last week) and that more visual pics would help or bite sized but they all thought it was fantastic to have this in general, and were asking me what’s the catch lol. I said no catch, just genuine people who want to give these YP a chance. We will get some who will not take it on, but it will build and we prefer people who will put that time in so it will filter as we go.”

Online SET programme cohort #2 info Session Film London x1. 7 youth workers and 3 young people

Online Youth session : Application process - with additional support through process 5 young people

CV examples
Applic form in Word version
CV and Application tips
Interview tips and practice
WHAT THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR: you need to demonstrate enthusiasm, passion for your dept and willingness to learn.
- What is Industry looking for?
- Good Time-keeping
- Resilience
- Problem solving
- Good attitude
- Team player
- Good with people
- Enthusiasm
- Confidence
- Uses own initiative
- Agility
- Professional attitude
- flexibility

Outcome:

5 young people applied to Cohort 2 locations trainee opportunity
1 young person shortlisted to HoD Locations for Signal interview
1 young person didn’t but get put forward but put on B&D next paid marshalling opportunity

cohort#3 September/October/November 2024

Online SET programme cohort #2 info Session Film London – 5 young people attended

nline Youth session : Application process - with additional support through process 6 young people attended

outcome:

2 young people applied to Cohort 2 locations trainee opportunity
1 young person shortlisted to HoD Locations for Signal interview

3 Learnings

Need better coordination through a clearer delivery framework between council film/locations team, training team, Youth workers and production team to optimise opportunities for young people and industry – and community
Need to develop youth worker recruitment process
Need to develop youth worker information session(s) to give bitesize information and ensure the youth workers understand their part in supporting young people through the application and transition process
Need to develop young people referral process and ensure they understand their part in navigating the application and have the tools and support for transition process
Youth Worker transition support to young people and industry is really important element of our Screen RoELs delivery

2.2.2 Key Activities, Outcomes & Learnings in 2025

Updating the Screen RoELs model from 2024 learnings.
Connected with Film London at a FFL connect session and started discussions about how we might work together on the new Picture East Film Festival - with their partner TNBFC – Mentoring, and Skills Teams. I brought 60FortyFilms back in to develop a proposal for a Screen RoELs project to pilot the updated model.

1 UPDATED Screen RoELs ModEL (Draft November 2025)

Engaging with marginalised talent in Youth Clubs to demonstrate careers pathway in the TV industry

The Partners

A Scaleable Delivery Framework Achieving National Government (DCMS) and Industry (Screen Skills/Into Film/BFI/BAFTA) Strategy

SEEit Working Trust

Screen RoELs development and London Pilot coordinator

Local Councils

Youth Services: Youth Workers and Youth Clubs

are the connection between the schools, community, youth centre, young people and authorities. They are trusted by the young people, know the young people's interests and can talent spot, create courses and run programs to support their skills development for the industry. The first step with Youth workers is to give them knowledge of and access to opportunities. The Youth workers are equal partners in the process and we will be building sustainable relationships between all partners through Regional Industry Support Organisation (eg Film London)

Film Departments: Locations

Provide permissions etc for locations shoots for production companies. As part of Council strategies they want to encourage more community benefit and youth employment from the locations opportunities. Some now funding borough SET READY training and supporting a local freelance network for local recruitment. This collaboration increases access by marginalised talent, sustainable recruitment, and sustainable support (working with Youth Services and Regional Support Organisations)

Regional Industry Support Organisations

Eg Film London and their STRIDE platform, EAN and training partners

Regional organisations can build local relationships and deliver locally. ScreenSkills and IntoFilm are UK wide but can also deliver online sessions that are accessible, and they also have good online resources for further research/ information. It is potentially worth linking to Into Film re Youth Club Film Clubs, and their Careers Sessions for Educators…

Delivering general sessions to youth workers and young people
Delivering Recruiting process for production opportunities
Working with Council Film Depts re SET Ready Training
On-going support and opportunities to STRIDE platform members
On-going support and recruitment for Council Film Depts and Production Companies

Production Companies

Eg 60Forty Films: Are the end users. The ones who create the content and who are committed to diversifying the workforce and providing opportunities at every level for those from Under-Represented groups. The industry is aware of representation being a problem and the support required for those coming through non-institutional pathways. This approach creates a solution to that through the involvement of the youth worker.

Young People:

Supported by Council Youth Services and/or attending council supported youth clubs/zones/centres who don’t usually have knowledge of or access to these opportunities. Young talent currently untapped by industry.

The Delivery Framework Stages

PILOT working in two London Boroughs, SEEit Working Trust would coordinate – potential to develop this by Film London/regional industry support organisation

Establish connection with Council Youth Services, Film Dept to access

youth clubs/zones
youth workers
young people
community
Locations

Establish connection with regional Industry Support organisation to access

Knowledge & Skills support
Mentoring
Networking & Opportunity platforms

Establish Relationships with Production Companies (ideally those going into Production in the borough) to access

Studio and location opportunities

Screen RoELs Sessions Bring the partnership together to deliver sessions

General Introduction sessions at Youth Clubs as part of Youth Worker CPD
General Introduction sessions at youth Clubs for Young People as part of Youth Club/Centre/Zone programming

Production Company/SET Ready Training Opportunity sessions at Youth Clubs to engage youth workers and young people in potential opportunities eg ScreenSkills’ Annual Traineeship programme and Council based SET Ready training opportunities
- Roles
- Research/knowledge hubs
- CVs, application forms, interviews

Young people sign up to Stride platform, ScreenSkills Trainee Finder etc to access opportunities and support/mentors

On-going Youth Worker Support

Tracking & IMPACT

Screen RoELs Pilot 2026 : 60Forty Films & Film London Funded Pilot

Starting in ENFIELD but with aim of developing London wide youth services relationships

Developing relationships with Newham and Tower Hamlets Council Youth Services, as well as discussing the project with other youth service providers.

Timetable for Development and delivery early 2026 opportunities and to link with 60Forty Films’ April Training Opportunities in Production areas:

Locations
Production
Assistant Directing
Props
Accounts

General Introduction to Sector and Roles AND Specific opportunity combined

Entry Level Career Pathway:

aged 18+
Entry level (foot in the door)
- work and freelance
- training / work experience
Min/no qualifications required
Work Ready Skills & Experience (WRYSE) competencies preferred
Paid

#1 YOUTH WORKERS

Youth Worker Session delivered as a panel type session at each youth club (like a Roadshow) working with 60Forty Film crew (incl young people who have been through the entry level/Screen RoELs process) and Film London/EAN partner

Upskill Youth Workers with knowledge of HETV industry:
- Pathway
- sector information
- roles
- what competencies industry is looking for
- how to demonstrate them in CVs/applications/interviews
- what support is out there/sign-posting to Regional industry support organisation and partners
Stress Importance of role of Youth Worker
- Talent spotting for the Youth Opportunities
- Preparing the young people for the Screen RoEL Sessions
- Support for young people during the engagement process
- Support for young people and production company re TRANSITION into workplace
Specific 60Forty Films opportunity
- Information re roles and what industry is looking for
- Application form
- Process timetable etc

#2 TALENT SPOTTED YOUNG PEOPLE

Youth Session could be delivered at one venue or more depending on interest, working with 60Forty Film crew (incl young people who have been through the entry level/Screen RoELs process) and Film London/EAN partner

In person session to engage them with opportunity

Screen RoELs Pathway
Knowledge of and Access to Screen Industries Opportunities/Roles: for young people so they can start thinking about/engage with opportunities
- Roles and what industry is looking for (WRYSE Competencies)
- What it’s really like (Crew) and Progression
- Research/knowledge hubs
- CVs, application forms, interviews
- Support for young people during the engagement process
- Support for young people and production company re TRANSITION into workplace

Online follow up to look at CVs, application forms, potential mock interviews in advance of the one week LIVE recruitment process which is open to wider audience (eg Film London’s Stride Platform or ScreenSkills’ national subscribers

#3. Young people sign up to Stride platform/ScreenSkills

to access opportunity RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Information webinar
Application form
Process timetable etc

AND FURTHER

Skills: CVs, Applics, interview, set ready +Freelance skills
Training/work: put skills into practice

On-going Youth Worker Support

Youth workers continue to talent spot, talk about opportunities and refer Young people
Youth workers support young person and industry through transition into work/placement – could work direct with production/studio or with Film London (if they were coordinating/running the opportunity)

Tracking : SEEit Working Trust Development with Partners

collaborative approach needed. Need a Unique code attached to Young Person coming through Screen RoELs throughout career… need a “tix BOX” for young people to tick re ScreenRoELs participant for EAN/Production Opportunity/career progression – so in any org using the system can just pull of code
Tracking data/analysis For youth workers, council/govt, production company, industry support organisation, funders, central strategy
- To inform, support, and influence policy agenda, service design and investment choice
Using 7 + Cross-cutting RoEL ModEL themes : Knowledge, Access, Engagement, Participation, Learning, Progression, Legacy plus Health & Well-being

RoEL ModELs Development for 2026

1 Developing a RoEL ModEL project with Oitij-Jo as a partner in Whitechapel Gallery’s new 2026 East London Backyard Biennale

TUFAN : Oitij-Jo Collective’s Proposal

In 1905, Rokeya S. Hossain also known as Begum Rokeya posed a challenge that still resonates today:
“Why do you allow yourselves to be shut up?”

“Because it cannot be helped as they are stronger than women.”

“A lion is stronger than a man, but it does not enable him to dominate the human race. You have neglected the duty you owe to yourselves and you have lost your natural rights by shutting your eyes to your own interests.” — Sultana’s Dream, 1905

Rokeya envisioned what is seen to be the first feminist sci-fi. Her words reflect the very essence of Tufan: the courage to face upheaval, to confront entrenched power, and to open oneself to new possibilities. As British Bangladeshi women in the UK approach the 121st anniversary of her legacy in 2026, OITIJ-JO will honour her at the Backyard Biennale, celebrating her vision and its continued relevance in shaping how we see ourselves, our communities, and our futures.

The festival becomes a platform for dialogue, exploration, and co-creation. Bringing the community together to share voices, honour diverse experiences, and celebrate the relationships and histories that hold us close. Guided by Rokeya’s call to “open our eyes,” and like those caught within a tufan, participants are invited to navigate disruption, discover new perspectives, and embrace the incremental growth that leads to renewal and fresh narratives.

SEEit Working Trust

Supporting the work of Oitij-Jo Collective and Backyard Biennale Partners to deliver more meaningful cultural/creative experiences with progression pathways for young people in East London.

Most Young People’s cultural/creative engagement is through institutions like school, but we champion a non-institutional inclusion framework working with youth workers - key gatekeepers to marginalised communities - as a pathway that can bring about that transformation.

Creative RoELModELs© better connects youth workers and creatives to deliver more meaningful cultural engagement in marginalised communities and highlight the value of youth work in the process.

Creative Project RoEL sessions

Run project RoEL Informal learning sessions working with their creative project funded by Whitechapel Gallery. Paid co-design sessions with youth workers and creatives to build knowledge and networks, and enable youth workers to prepare the young people for the project, support them and the creatives during the project and continue support post-project - treating them more like teachers. The youth workers and creatives will explore a funded project using 7 themes, to collaboratively agree start date, content, delivery and evaluation:

knowledge of sectors and project
access to youth and industry
engagement of young people for the project
participation of young people in the project
learning for the young people, youth workers and creatives – aims, monitoring, evaluation, learning & Impact
progression pathways for the young people, youth workers and creatives
legacy for the community, youth sector and creative/cultural sector

Creative Career RoEL sessions

Working with Backyard Biennale partners we will upskill youth workers with knowledge of and access to careers in Visual Arts, to support the engagement of talented young people aged 16 and 17 from marginalised neighbourhoods in East London, to give them accessible, quality, relevant opportunities with progression pathways:

Entry level (foot in the door) training / work experience opportunities
Min/no qualifications required
Work Ready Skills & Experience (WRYSE) competencies preferred

Creating/using existing work experience/skills placements in the Biennale’s Partner organisations.

start the process with an unpaid experience, then
develop the paid jobs/experiences for 18+ for the next Biennale (hopefully we can then have a rolling programme of 16/17 opportunities and 18+ opportunities)
and building a pool of local talent which can be accessed by all partners

2 ON GOING : Develop of and testing Training the Trainer package

3 ON-GOING Development of Project RoEL Alumni Support Network and Impact Evidence Hub

Connecting youth workers and creatives is step 1, sustaining that connection and the impact needs:

a communications platform that directly connects Alumni youth workers and creatives for sustained relationships and impact information
Impact Evidence Hub: Youth workers and marginalised communities rarely access project data/evaluations.

4 ON-GOING Website and On-line Resources Hub

ADDITIONAL – DEVELOPMENTS INITIATED FOR 2026

Creative RoEL ModELs supports the new December 2025 Government National Youth Strategy, and we will continue to highlight this throughout next phase of development activities

Total Budget January 2024-December2025

£34,620.00

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