Creative Futures: Transforming Young Lives Through Arts
"Before Creative Futures, I wouldn't have had the confidence to do anything like that. Seeing myself on screen dancing and singing made me realise what I'm capable of."
The Creative Futures project was a dynamic, collaborative arts programme led by National Youth Arts Wales. Delivered in partnership with Gwent Music Service, Ballet Cymru, Public Health Wales and local services, it explored whether creative opportunities can have significant impacts for young people facing the challenges of poverty.
Reaching Those Who Need It Most
Funded through the Welsh Government’s Child Poverty Innovation Fund, Creative Futures supported 233 young people aged 10–18 across Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent. Over the course of 6 months, the programme delivered 61 workshops across 9 locations, employing 13 freelance practitioners. It reached young people in schools, youth clubs, community venues and beyond, extending its reach further with a 5-week programme in Merthyr Tydfil and Discovery Dance sessions in Mold - proving there is an appetite for high-quality creative experiences in communities across South Wales.
Recognising barriers such as transport, cost, confidence and competing commitments, the team adapted quickly from a traditional weekly community model to a more flexible, responsive delivery:
School-based sessions
Youth club partnerships
Creative Futures Experience Days at Ballet Cymru
One-off workshops and intensive experiences
By taking creative opportunities directly to young people and providing free access (including food and transport support), the programme aimed to remove traditional obstacles to participation.
Creative Skills, Confidence & Career Aspirations
Participants immersed themselves in music production, DJing, beatboxing, dance (including breakdancing), songwriting, instrumental learning and filmmaking. Working alongside industry professionals – including artists from The Voice – proved transformative.
Young people shared:
"I was blown away we were in the same room as someone from The Voice, and he was teaching us."
"Creative Futures has helped me with confidence playing guitar."
"It made me think I could do that."
Many reported significant confidence gains, with one participant moving from a self-rated 4 to an 8 after performing on stage. Others discovered new skills in drumming, choreography, filming and teamwork, while gaining real insight into creative career pathways.
Wellbeing and Social Connections
Wellbeing was woven throughout the programme through mindfulness, music, movement and reflective activities. For many, Creative Futures became a vital anchor:
"If I wasn’t doing Creative Futures I’d be laying in bed."
"I’d be doing nothing if I wasn’t here, oh wait, I’d go on my Xbox..."
The project fostered new friendships, reduced isolation and created safe, inclusive spaces. Participants particularly valued the social aspect:
"The best thing about Creative Futures is getting to meet new people and the amount of activity we do."
A landmark achievement of the project was the completion of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) – the first time an arts organisation in Wales has undertaken this formal process. Conducted in partnership with Public Health Wales, the Welsh Health Impact Assessment Support Unit and Aneurin Bevan Health Board, the HIA provided robust evidence of the programme’s positive effects on participants’ physical, mental and social wellbeing. This pioneering approach strengthens the case for arts as a powerful tool for public health and community development.
Abigail Malcom, Senior Public Health Practitioner (Policy and Impact Assessment) at Public Health Wales, who partnered with National Youth Arts Wales on the programme said: “The Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit (WHIASU) at Public Health Wales provided advisory support to National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) to deliver a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of their Creative Futures programme. The HIA helped to highlight how the project was likely to impact the health and wellbeing of young people living in Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent. By considering a wide range of impacts, the HIA identified opportunities to maximise positive health outcomes and mitigate against potential unintended consequences.
The HIA made a number of recommendations, including emphasising the importance of using inclusive and accessible language throughout the project to challenge perceptions and encourage wider participation. Consideration of these recommendations will help inform future delivery and strengthen the programme’s capacity to support positive health, wellbeing and life‑course outcomes for young people across Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent.”
Stronger Communities Through Partnership
Creative Futures exemplifies the power of collaboration. National Youth Arts Wales worked closely with Gwent Music Service, Ballet Cymru, Public Health Wales, Aneurin Bevan Health Board, local schools and youth services. Together, they co-designed solutions that delivered responsive, high-impact provision while breaking down barriers to the arts. Theatre trips to the Wales Millennium Centre and The Riverfront, alongside studio days at Ballet Cymru, opened up cultural experiences many participants had never accessed before.
Creative Futures’ Project Manager, Bruna Garcia, said: “It has been a real blessing to work on Creative Futures and to meet so many amazing young people. I’m incredibly proud that we were able to give them the opportunity to explore their creativity through dance and music. The project offered more than just workshop, it created a safe and supportive space where young people could try new things, develop their talents, and build meaningful social connections with their peers.
It has been truly rewarding to witness their growth and see how far they have come over the course of the project. For many, it has inspired them to get creative and pursue their passions in the arts. This project has been invaluable not only for the young people involved, but also for National Youth Arts Wales, allowing us to expand our reach and introduce more young people to the organisation and its opportunities.”
Learning for the Future
While the programme was overwhelmingly positive, honest feedback highlighted areas for development – such as offering more choice in wellbeing activities and managing noise levels in music sessions. These insights, along with the clear risk of losing momentum when projects end, will shape future work.
Why This Matters
“Creative Futures was more than a series of workshops. It is proof that when we invest in creative opportunities for young people affected by poverty, we see measurable gains in confidence, skills, wellbeing, aspiration and social connection. In the words of participants, without these opportunities many would have remained disengaged, isolated or "getting into trouble." With them, they became performers, filmmakers, musicians, confident young people ready to step into the world.” - Jamie Jenkins, Head of Dance, National Youth Arts Wales
“National Youth Arts Wales believes every young person in Wales deserves access to transformative creative experiences. Projects like Creative Futures demonstrate the powerful role arts organisations can play in tackling child poverty, supporting mental health and building stronger, more creative communities. We urge funders, policymakers and partners to continue investing in youth arts provision that is flexible, inclusive and deeply connected to local needs.” - Evan Dawson, CEO, National Youth Arts Wales
For more information about the project and the work done throughout Wales by National Youth Arts Wales, please contact nyaw@nyaw.org.uk or visit our website www.nyaw.org.uk