New ventures for young people at Hawkwood

Neil Carmichael, MP visited Hawkwood to meet with Create Gloucestershire Director Pippa Jones, interns employed at Hawkwood and others to hear about the Creative Employment Programme.

“This programme has created 41 job opportunities over the last 18 months and many interns have continued in their organisation, while others have gained clarity about career objectives or study pathways” said Louise Bardgett of Create Gloucestershire. 

Neil Carmichael was himself instrumental in creating apprenticeships in the 1990s and is a champion of training and education in engineering.

“The creative employment programme has created additional capacity in marketing and fundraising, has helped our educational charity grow and has initiated fantastic networking opportunities,” said Alicia Carey, Principal of Hawkwood. Natasha O’Dowd, aged 23, joined Hawkwood in February and has worked in social media marketing, creating promotional materials, volunteer and event management, fundraising and administration. Lucy Sharp emphasised the vital contribution the internship programme has given to ArtShape, enabling new projects to be developed.

 “My internship at Hawkwood joins up my interest in both education and the arts. I’m already learning so much in all aspects of marketing and I wouldn’t be here without the support and funding through Create Gloucestershire and Hawkwood,” says Victoria Ainley, aged 24 who works alongside George Hemming, aged 23, arts graduate and fundraising intern.

The programme has been funded by The Arts Council, Ambition Giving and The Summerfield Charitable Trust.