We are proud to announce that we have been awarded funding from the Walcot Foundation to launch ACTION; an innovative three-year project designed to empower young people aged 16-30 from diverse backgrounds across Lambeth.

The programme will launch in September 2025 and introduce three strands: Make it Happen, Artist Agency and Creative Hub, in order to nurture climate-conscious leadership, creative skills and employment opportunities:

• Make it Happen – a groundbreaking 10-week green-entrepreneurship course that aims to equip young changemakers with skills to develop creative enterprises aligned with sustainability goals 
• Artist Agency – studio time and artistic development led by professional artists
• Creative Hub – a series of drop-in workshops co-designed by youth interns to build creative resilience and peer-led learning

Julie , CEO of Art4Space, says: “ACTION is a co-created initiative developed by listening directly to young people in Lambeth about their needs in relation to volunteering, training and employment. We want more young leaders –  we’re calling them ‘shapeshifters’ – to be more prominent in leadership roles and to sit on Boards across a variety of organisations. This programme will help us identify those shapeshifters in the community and give them a chance and the opportunity to make a ‘real’ difference.

“The real game changer is the ‘Make It Happen’ course – where participants will get to devise a sustainable creative arts initiative, develop the idea and then pitch it – Dragon Den style – to a business panel, with the opportunity to be awarded £100 for buying art supplies.”

Each year of the initiative, we will work with over 300 young people, and of those youth who take part in ACTION, the desired targeted outcomes are: 

• 35 will gain a National Open College Network (NOCN) qualification in Green Skills Sustainability 
• 40 will achieve Arts Awards via the Creative Hub
• 120 will progress into employment, education, or volunteering placements with Art4Space or the wider community
• 40 will receive tailored mentorship 
• 20 will complete mental health resilience awareness training

Dan Hogan, Grants Manager at the Walcot Foundation says: “We’re delighted to support Art4Space in delivering ACTION – an ambitious, inclusive programme that reflects our shared commitment to empowering Lambeth’s young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities they deserve.” 

Grounded in Lambeth’s Council’s Cultural and Climate Policies, ACTION offers accredited training and flexible creative engagement, including nationally recognised qualifications: NOCN Awards and Arts Awards. The programme aims to break down social barriers by providing inclusive routes for NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and low-income individuals, gaining confidence, wellbeing and sustainable futures.

Councillor Marcia Cameron, Lambeth Council Cabinet Member for Economic Inclusion says: “We’re proud to support Art4Space in helping us bring Lambeth’s Growth Plan to life, creating purposeful, creative opportunities that empower young people and celebrate the strengths of our communities. Their inclusive, community-rooted work reflects the kind of innovation and local talent we’re committed to championing as we build a fairer, more vibrant economy for everyone in Lambeth.”

Daisy, Art4Space Youth Programme Lead says: “I’m so proud to be part of a programme that actually listens to young people and gives us the tools to lead change – ACTION is exactly what Lambeth needs and I’m thrilled Walcot Foundation is backing it.”