Creating Opportunity - Changing Lives
Creating Opportunity - Changing Lives
For all press enquiries please contact info@soft-touch.org.uk
Marketing and Communications agency, Mocha Marketing, team up with Leicestershire charity in new partnership
The exhibition is a collaboration of work from two different projects
Lottery grant to help with Soft Touch Arts schemes with youngsters
Leading firm of chartered accountants, Newby Castleman, is sponsoring a VIP event marking the start of a Leicester based children’s charity’s 30th birthday celebrations this November.
Artwork by prisoners at Glen Parva Young Offenders Institute has gone on display in a city art gallery and features a diverse mix of paintings, sculptures, models and sketches.
We're pleased to announce that funding has been secured to launch a new project to support some of Leicester and Leicestershire's most at risk young people.
EverythingBranded.co.uk were proud to support Soft Touch Arts at a fundraising barbeque on Friday, July 1.
A new charity headquarters and a city business park have picked up awards for architecture.
Soft Touch Arts, based in Leicester, took advantage of a kind donation from one of Overbury’s major projects in the city to support its Re-Fab project
A charity has received a generous donation of more than £9,000.
A Leicester youth arts charity gave HRH The Earl of Wessex a right Royal welcome today as he officially opened open the doors to its new £1.1 million premises.
Christina gives an insight into a typical day at Soft Touch Arts.
Art is being used to boost the mental health of young men at Glen Parva Young Offenders Institute.
Hundreds of youngsters welcomed the Earl of Wessex on a visit to Leicester and the county yesterday.
Soft Touch Arts has launched a Brick in the Wall campaign to raise £5,000 towards a £30,000 target to complete its new £1.1 million Youth Arts and Heritage Centre.
"As creative organisations, both Arch and Soft Touch agreed we could form a great partnership."
A PIONEERING arts organisation has ambitions plans for the future after being handed the keys to its new city centre home.
New building young designers session
Tucked between two terraced houses, behind a big blue door, one hard-working community project is making a huge difference to the lives of local people.
Leicester City Council is planning to sell a former nursery on New Walk.
I remember how boring youth clubs were when I was growing up: going to an old, shabby hall with maybe a pool table and some naff music playing on the stereo.
An ex-teenage offender who won a community award after turning his life around has helped to launch this year's search for young achievers.
Marketing and Communications agency, Mocha Marketing, team up with Leicestershire charity in new partnership
Leicester based Mocha Marketing, have announced their recent partnership with Leicestershire charity, Soft Touch Arts. Situated on New Walk, the charity help disadvantaged young people and support them with challenges in their lives, by engaging them in projects which build creative, social and employability skills. Each and every year they work with around 1000 young people.
Mocha Marketing have developed a close relationship with Soft Touch Arts since the beginning of 2015 and over the past year, have supported the charity in many different ways.
Founder and Managing Director at Mocha Marketing, Gemma Orton, has had the privilege of working with Soft Touch Arts as a Business Mentor to one of their young people, for the past 12 months. It was seeing the impact that the charity has on so many deprived young people in Leicestershire, that Gemma wanted to support on a greater level.
“Having been involved with charities at operational level for some time, I know that the skills gap generally is on a PR front as there just isn’t the funds available to support this kind of work – yet without creating awareness, how is a charity supposed to maximise on their efforts? It can be a vicious circle.”
Charity work has always been important to Gemma, which is why she instills this in to the working ethos of the business also. As the relationship developed with Soft Touch, so did the working relationship between Mocha Marketing and Soft Touch Arts which has led them to become the charity’s Official PR Agency.
In addition to this, Mocha Marketing have pledged to raise £1,500 by the end of 2017 for Soft Touch Arts as well as supporting the business ambassador panel and managing much of the PR requirements for the charity.
Christina Wigmore is the Business Development Director at Soft Touch Arts and is excited for what the partnership can bring.
“Soft Touch is absolutely delighted to be offered this partnership opportunity from an agency that really care about making a difference in local communities. It’s hard for small charities to make the most of PR opportunities due to limited staff and financial resources and Mocha’s experience will help to raise the profile of our work and the impact we have on disadvantaged young people across Leicestershire”.
The charity has also just won the ‘Social Impact’ award at the Leicestershire East Midlands Chamber Awards. This is an achievement that both Soft Touch Arts and Mocha Marketing are thrilled with.
Gemma is hopeful that this newly established relationship can continue for many years.
“By witnessing the impact that Soft Touch have on our young people, I have to say that I have become totally attached to the Soft Touch team who work tirelessly to achieve what they do, and hope to be working with them, achieving special things together, for many years to come.”
See the original article in Niche Magazine
Passionate about giving young people a chance, the Big Lottery funded BIG-UP New Parks programme ran from 2011 to 2016, focusing on some of the issues and needs identified by young people, adults and organisations on the estate. The aim of the BIG-UP programme was to deliver creative sessions in schools, community centres, youth clubs and on the streets of New Parks and Braunstone Frith. The project enabled the charity to work with different groups of people, using the arts to achieve a range of positive social outcomes and create progression routes for individual participants.
A young man who is a New Parks resident believes that the BIG-UP project really helped him to develop.
“It has helped with my behaviour, I used to be bored and now I can do more things that help me calm down. I am controlling my anger now and I’m a bit more confident in myself – when I first met you guys I was dead shy, but now I’ve been doing events and talking to more people. I didn’t used to be good at school but now I want to do better so I can be a role model, and I want to learn different skills. My attitude always used to be ‘no’ but now I share more.”
The second project which is featured in the exhibition is a 3 year collaboration project with New Parks Library, funded by Arts Council England. This programme has been running alongside BIG-UP and enabled Soft Touch Arts to work together with well-known local artists such as Paul Conneally, producing a variety of work that has been strongly conceptual.
Sally Norman, Director and Founder of Soft Touch Arts is excited for the future projects that the charity are working on.
“It feels quite strange that BIG-UP is coming to an end after 5 years of working in New Parks. However, we had a great end of programme festival in New Parks last Saturday and the good news is that we have an exciting new project that we will be unveiling shortly for young people in New Parks, Beaumont Leys, Stocking Farm and Mowmacre Hill. Meanwhile the library project has a further year to run.”
The New Parks Art exhibition celebrates the end of the BIG-UP New Parks programme and features work from both projects, as they complement each other perfectly – BIG-UP using arts as a tool to address local issues, and the Arts Council funded library project producing great art and working alongside established artists.
The exhibition is free to attend and is running from Tuesday 9th August until Tuesday 23rd August from 11am – 4pm at Soft Touch Arts on 50 New Walk Leicester, LE1 6TF.
Find the original articles in Edge Magazine and Niche Magazine
An arts project that helps city youngsters make the most of their potential has been expanded thanks to a £391,000 lottery grant.
Soft Touch Arts, in New Walk, has been running its Big-Up project in New Parks for the past five years.
The funding came to an end this summer but now a Big Lottery Fund cheque for £391,000 will allow Soft Touch to carry on their work and expand the project to other parts of North-West Leicestershire, including Beaumont Leys, Stocking Farm and Mowmacre Hill.
Cultural activities such as cooking, crafts and music will be organised along schools and community groups and they will lead to mentoring and working with young people to help them fulfil their potential.
Soft Touch co-director Sally Norman said: “The project is aimed at young people and helping them to progress and broaden their horizons. We’re going to be working in partnership with all sorts organisations, such as schools and youth clubs, and also going out with our studio van to engage with people on the streets.
The funding from the lottery is the amount we bid for so we were very pleased to get the full amount. That will cover 80 per cent of the whole project and we’re waiting to find out about the rest of the money.”
Many other projects and organisations across the country have received grants of up to £10,000.
In the city, grants have gone to Aqoon Schools Home Support Services, Crystal Clear Creators Crystal Radio, GNG Football Club, Goldhill Adventure Playground, The Gujarat Hindu Association, Leicester Philharmonia Orchestra and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Elsewhere in the country, cash will go to Townlands Primary School in Earl Shilton, Highgate Community Primary School in Sileby, Wilbarston School Parents’ Association, Ridgeway Primary Academy in Market Harborough and the HIES The Enterprise Education Project, among others.
Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund England grant-making director said: “Whether it is supporting homeless people to get a more permanent roof over their heads or helping women break away from domestic abuse, these projects will make a huge difference to the lives of many. They are excellent examples of people working together to help others in their community to build on the skills they have and maximise their potential.”
Find the original article by Tom Mack, in the Wednesday, 17 August 2016 Leicester Mercury.
The charity, Soft Touch, will host a 1980’s themed interactive exhibition throughout the month of November to mark its 30th birthday, following a VIP launch on Wednesday 2nd November sponsored by Newby Castleman.
Established in 1986, Soft Touch uses arts, media and music activities to inspire and engage disadvantaged young people and help them to develop creative, social and employability skills.
The VIP launch will include a private view of the exhibition and local dignitaries and business leaders will be in attendance.
Newby Castleman is also celebrating a significant birthday this year as it enters its 65th year. Stephen Castleman, Partner at Newby Castleman, said: “Our 65th birthday is a fantastic opportunity for us to step back and take stock of everything we have achieved and the wide range of great companies we have and we still work with. The history and legacy of Newby Castleman speaks for itself. We have many clients that have been with us not just for years but for decades.
Soft Touch is one of these valued clients who we have been looking after for over 20 years now. It is an inspirational charity that changes the lives of disadvantaged young people and we are thrilled to be able to help make their 30th birthday a success whilst we celebrate our 65th birthday.”
Christine Wigmore, Business Development Director at Soft Touch, said: “We are delighted with the continued support from Newby Castleman, which will contribute greatly to the success of this anniversary event.
This year is a very exciting time for us. The exhibition is going to be a fantastic opportunity not only to celebrate our 30th birthday but to showcase the work of the young people we strive to help and we simply could not do it without the support of local businesses such as Newby Castleman.
Local artists, fashion designers and businesses are coming together to work with the young people we help day in and day out to create this fantastic interactive exhibition. It’s very moving to see everyone coming together and doing their bit to help us celebrate.”
For more information on Soft Touch, please visit www.soft-touch.org.uk
Newby Castleman is one of the UK’s leading independent accountancy practices offering a range of specialist financial services, business and tax advice for individuals and businesses. Its head office can be found on Regent Road, Leicester and a branch office is located in Forest Road, Loughborough.
To find out more about its full portfolio of services, download the free Newby Castleman app from The App Store or Google Play, telephone the Leicester branch on 0116 254 9262, the Loughborough branch on 01509 263500 or visit the website at www.newbycastleman.co.uk
Find the original article in Niche Magazine
Artwork by prisoners at Glen Parva Young Offenders Institute has gone on display in a city art gallery and features a diverse mix of paintings, sculptures, models and sketches.
The exhibition, called ‘Inside, Outside’, features the result of an eighteen-month arts workshop programme, led by award-winning Leicester charity Soft Touch Arts in collaboration with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) which provides healthcare services at the prison.
Weekly arts workshops, to improve the wellbeing of prisoners, particularly those with mental ill health and alcohol and substance misuse issues, were held. This gave an opportunity for them to attend the project to develop their creative skills and express themselves through their artwork. The project was supported by the Big Lottery Fund, Blaby District Council and the Charity of Carlton Hayes.
The Inside Outside exhibition has been sponsored by 36 Crime and was opened by Mr William Harbage QC at a special private view on 7th July.
Michelle Simpson of 36 Crime said: “We were delighted to be approached by Soft Touch Arts to partner with them to present the outstanding artwork created by the young men who have taken part in the project. The positive impact these sessions have clearly had on the participants and their families is heartening. We would encourage everyone, no matter what their involvement with the criminal justice system is, to come and see the artwork on display at this exhibition.”
More than 80 of the prison’s 400 18-21 year-old prisoners took part in the workshops which ran in two phases, with artwork from phase one now featured on the walls of the visitor centre at Glen Parva, and the phase two artwork included in the current exhibition.
The sessions in prison were run by Soft Touch arts workers Kieran Walsh and Lewis Buttery.
Kieran said: “This exhibition is a culmination of months of hard work by the young men at Glen Parva. Many of them have never had the chance to be this creative before, and the idea of having an exhibition really gives them a sense of determination and enthusiasm. We’re really proud of everything they’ve done. Some of them want to continue to work with us after their release, which is a testament to the strong relationships that have been built up over the course of the project.”
Following the success of the Glen Parva project, LPT, Soft Touch Arts and Leicester Prison have been awarded a £3,000 grant to work on a collaborative project called Healthier Choices.
Natasha Garraway-Charles, head of prison healthcare for LPT, said: “Two of the Glen Parva artists, Leon and Scott, were at the opening event. Leon told guests: ‘This gave me a way to express myself and I’d say to anyone with creative force inside them that I have first-hand experience of how well it worked. I was one of those who said I would go to the class because I had nothing else to do but it has turned out to be a journey for myself.’”
Inside Outside is on display at 50 New Walk, Leicester LE1 6TF from 11am-5pm Tuesday – Saturday until 28 July 2016.
See the original article from The Business Desk and Edge Magazine here
We’re pleased to announce that funding has been secured to launch a new project to support some of Leicester and Leicestershire’s most at risk young people. The project, called the Youth Employability Support (YES) project, will aim to transform the futures of 400 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 who are currently the furthest from being able to move into employment.
It will focus on young people who face extra barriers to work, such as mental or physical health difficulties, homelessness, disabilities or being a carer, but it will also be open to any young person in Leicester or Leicestershire who is not in employment, education or training.
VAL Infrastructure Executive Manager Simon Jenner explained saying:
This project has been developed over a period of more than a year alongside eight partners and the young people we’ll be supporting. This means that the project will be able to deliver innovative, person-centred solutions based on what young people really need.
Unlike traditional services, the YES Project will deliver a bespoke journey for young people. YES Project staff will reach out to young people, assess their needs and then work with the young person to develop a support package that works for them.
Support on offer will include one to one mentoring, work places, creative short courses, team building and more.
These services will be delivered by the YES Project’s eight delivery partners: The Prince’s Trust, Seed Creativity, Soft Touch Arts, Twenty Twenty, Leicestershire Cares, Bangladesh Youth and Cultural Shomiti, The Bridge and Warwickshire College.
The project has received up to £1.9m of funding from the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme.
Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding
See the original article from VAL (Voluntary Action Leicestershire) here
EverythingBranded.co.uk were proud to support Soft Touch Arts at a fundraising barbeque on Friday, July 1.
The Leicester based charity are an award winning charity which uses ar
ts, media and music activities as tools to engage with and change the lives of disadvantaged young people in the area.
The charity was established in 1986 and since then have helped and encouraged young people build confidence, find new hobbies and put them back on the right track.
Working alongside local MPs, police, fire service, schools and local authorities, their work tackles local and national problems such as gang culture, anti-social behaviour and unhealthy lifestyles through the use of creative arts.
With the weather thankfully holding out for the event the charity raised an impressive amount of money and gained good exposure.
Emily Johnston from Soft Touch Arts said: “Evolve IT consultants hosted a fundraising BBQ outside their office, with all funds coming to Soft Touch.
“The event saw other businesses from the business park attend to find out more about them, Soft Touch set up a stall with lots of materials and merchandise so that people could take things away to remember us, or pass them on.
“Everything Branded donated us fantastic branded balloons, pens and wristbands, so we were able to give away branded merchandise. These were amazing, because the balloons really lightened up our stall, and wristbands are always a hit.
“The merchandise from Everything Branded was high quality, and so many people took some wristbands, our brand is becoming more recognisable.”
Paul Rowlett, Director of EverythingBranded.co.uk said: “We are always pleased to support charities such as Soft Touch, especially as they do such great work in our local area.
“We are a company which has grown in Leicester and so we are always pleased when we can help charities which do work in the area we operate.
“We were proud to provide promotional merchandise to Soft Touch Arts and we hope it came in useful.”
A new charity headquarters and a city business park have picked up awards for architecture.
The RICS Awards for the region were held on April 21 and among the winners was Soft Touch Arts in Leicester.
The charity received the Community Benefit Award for its new £1.1 million centre in New Walk, which is a former car garage that has been transformed to help and inspire disadvantaged young people through the use of arts, music and media.
Soft Touch was launched 30 years ago by a group of unemployed arts workers and helps young people who are disadvantaged for various reason, including youngsters in care, refugees and those with mental health problems.
Director Christina Wigmore said: “We moved into the new building in June last year and it’s got music studios, art studios and kitchens where we teach cooking and catering skills.
“Before we were based in a terraced house in Clarendon Park and mainly did outreach work.
“Having the centre allows us to run a bigger range of activities, as well as fundraising events..
“We’ve got a lot more happening. Our aim is to create a brighter future for young people with challenges in their lives and here they can take their experiences further.”
Judging panel chairman Will Evans FRICS said: “Soft Touch Arts impressed the judges with the enthusiastic approach to shaping a community and building long term relationships, ensuring the longevity of their project.”
Alexandra Kowalczuk, of the project’s contractors Smallman and Sons, said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award, and we would like to thank all those involved who worked with us on this refurbishment project. It was a great team effort.”
Robert Woolston, director of the architects, rg+p, added: “We are absolutely thrilled with the RICS win.
“We have really enjoyed having the opportunity to work with Soft Touch, who do such a great job.”
The other city winner at the awards was Leicester Food Park, located near to Humberstone Heights Golf Club, which picked up the commercial award.
Read the original article on the Leicester Mercury website
Soft Touch Arts, based in Leicester, took advantage of a kind donation from one of Overbury’s major projects in the city to support its Re-Fab project, which uses arts to give disadvantaged young people aged between 14 and 25 opportunities to develop creative, life and employability skills. The Re-Fab project is funded by the RBS Skills & Opportunities Fund.
Overbury is currently carrying out the £4.2m refurbishment of 40,000 sq ft of office space, located at 20-40 New Walk on behalf of Leicester City Council. The site is a stone’s throw from Soft Touch Art’s home at 50 New Walk.
Christina Wigmore, director of Soft Touch Arts, explained: “When we saw the work going on next door, our arts project leader, Kieran Walsh, asked the Overbury team if they had any materials we might be able to re purpose for the Re-Fab project. They were very obliging and provided us with wood and metal that we were able to put to very good use.
“It’s great to have a business on board that really wants to put something back into the community. Although charities like ours need cash to keep our projects going, donations of time and materials are just as worthwhile and we’re really pleased that Overbury is helping.”
Chris Mellor, contracts manager at Overbury said: “Soft Touch Arts is a small charity, but one that does great work with young people locally. As a business we know that we don’t work in isolation and that the communities around our projects are just as important as creating the fit-for-purpose spaces that they will occupy. Where we can, we love to support local causes and we’re looking forward to seeing what the talented people working on the Re-Fab project are able to create with the materials.”
A special lunchtime event on May 19th will see the group showcase their work to business representatives who are invited to advise how the items can be marketed and sold.
Arron Jones, a young participant on the project said: “Coming to Re-Fab is good because you get to make anything, with anything! I learnt how to make shelves and work as a team, my highlight was moving into a flat and the people at Re-Fab helping me build stuff that I can use. I am also learning a new set of skills woodworking.”
Overbury’s work on the 20-40 New Walk building is expected to be completed in June 2016, with IBM expected to move in shortly after.
See the original article on the Overbury website
Arts charity for vulnerable young people given donation of more than £9,000
Soft Touch Arts, based in New Walk, Leicester, has been given the money from Star Trust.
Star Trust is run by local business owners and entrepreneurs and supports good causes across the East Midlands.
Soft Touch Arts uses art, media and music to support vulnerable young people. The donation will enable it to expand its Start referral programme, which develops the social skills, confidence and creativity of children and young adults with behavioural, physical and mental health difficulties.
Star Trust committee member Gemma Orton said: “Soft Touch does incredible work with some of Leicester’s most disadvantaged young people and it’s an honour to be able to make this donation that will allow the Start referral programme to reach so many more children and young adults across the county.
“Star Trust is committed to supporting small charities who can struggle to raise the funds they so badly need, and we are proud to be able to help these very worthy causes carry out the vital work they deliver in our communities.
“We would urge any small, East Midlands-based charity that is seeking funds for a specific project to get in touch so that we can lend our support.”
Vince Attwood, director at Soft Touch, said grants like this, formerly available from the local authority, were now difficult to come by.
He said: “To fund things like this through grants is quite difficult. It’s an ongoing thing.”
As well as donating the money, staff from Star Trust keep in touch with what Soft Touch is doing. Vince said: “They come down and see things we do. We meet the people who give us the money. You get a human side as well as the money.”
An exhibition at Sort Touch Arts showcases the work by young people from the Start referral programme. It is open this week and next week Tuesday to Saturday, from midday until 5pm.
Charities can apply to the Star Trust can do so at: www.star-trust.org.uk
A charity has received a generous donation of more than £9,000.
Read the original article on the Leicester Mercury website
A Leicester youth arts charity gave HRH The Earl of Wessex a right Royal welcome today as he officially opened open the doors to its new £1.1 million premises.
Soft Touch Arts welcomed Prince Edward and a host of VIP guests including Lady Gretton, the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, and Gordon Arthur, the High Sheriff of Leicestershire, as they unveiled the city’s first youth arts and heritage centre at 50 New Walk.
The organisation, which proides innovative creative art, media and music projects to help build skills and opportunities for vulnerable young people, has relocated from Clarendon Park following a major refurbishment that will enhance and improve its services to local young people.
The Earl viewed the new kitchen, where Phil Sharpe, chef patron of The White Peacock, and three young volunteers prepared lunch for the Earl and 100 guests, before he participated in a creative music session with more Soft Touch youngsters.
The event was topped off by performances from a drama group and beat poet before Prince Edward unveiled the commemorative plaque for the building.
Business and Strategic Director of Soft Touch Arts, Christina Wigmore, said:
“The event today surpassed our expectations – it was a privilege to welcome HRH Earl of Wessex and our other guests to our newly completed building, and for our young volunteers to be recognised for their hard work. It has taken three years to bring this project to fruition, so we are all excited to be entering a new chapter in the story of Soft Touch Arts.
“Our young volunteers have played a central role in the design process to ensure we have created the facilities and support they need. We know this will have a fantastic impact on the local community and look forward to welcoming more young people to this creative space, as well as offering them an opportunity to get involved with projects that give them a taste of creative enterprise such as organising their own exhibitions and events.”
The new larger premises will allow Soft Touch Arts to expand its creative projects, which include art and crafts, music, fashion, cooking, film, photography and the performing arts.
The new facilities include a healthy eating kitchen, a multi-sensory workshop, a large performance, exhibition and event space, a craft and textile room, music rehearsal and recording studios, digital production suites, a stencil art studio and a sculpture garden as well as improved disabled access.
The launch is being followed by an evening event at 5.30pm attended by Laura Dyer, Executive Director, Arts Council England, The City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, and members of the local business community, as well as the young people that use the charity’s services.
The centre’s refurbishment has been overseen by Smallman and Sons Builders and rg+p Architects who began work on the project in September 2014.
For more information about Soft Touch Arts please visit www.soft-touch.org.uk
Christina Wigmore is the Business Development Director at Soft Touch Arts, a youth arts charity based in Leicester, which has recently opened Leicester’s first Youth Arts and Heritage centre on New Walk. Here, Christina gives an insight into a typical day at Soft Touch Arts.
Christina comments: “My role is largely focussed on developing partnerships and making new projects and initiatives happen. Our biggest ever project, completed recently, is the move to our centre on New Walk, which was officially opened by HRH the Earl of Wessex. A huge amount of planning and organisation went into the event and to getting the building ready on time!
“My working day normally starts around 7am, as I check my emails when I first get up, before arriving at work around 9am. The first job of the day is a phone call with a potential funder for a new business mentoring project we are looking to launch, which would provide our young people with access to advice and support to help them develop enterprise and business skills. This is followed by one of our quarterly business panel meetings. We have a group of 22 individuals from local businesses who kindly give up their time to advise us on current challenges and new initiatives we want to introduce, including finance and fundraising ideas.
Our move will allow us to be more sustainable through renting out spaces for meetings, networking events and workshops.With public sector and grant funding shrinking, we need to be less reliant on this type of funding in the future, so coming up with new business ideas to make the charity more sustainable in the long-term is another key element of my role.
“In the evening it’s off to a networking event, which I do at least once a week. It’s a great way to meet new people and raise awareness of Soft Touch Arts as it’s vital for us to make new connections and gain support from the local business community. We’re also looking for sponsors for our Brick in the Wall campaign, which is raising money to finish refurbishing and equipping our new premises, so launching and running fundraising campaigns is another important aspect of my role.
“This job is ideal for me because I enjoy the challenge of making something happen. It’s great to have the opportunity to come up with new ideas and then put the resources in place to make them work in practice. It’s also great being able to see the results of the work I do, because it has such a positive impact on young people and involvement in creative projects really makes a difference to their lives. As a creative organisation Soft Touch Arts is a vibrant and friendly place to work, where new and exciting projects make every day different and interesting.”
The Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which provides mental and community health services, Glen Parva and Leicester charity Soft Touch Arts have joined forces to launch an innovative
year-long programme of creative arts workshops.
The £10,000 project is supported by the Big Lottery Fund, charitable donations and contributions from the Leicestershire Partnership Trust and Glen Parva.
A total of 40 workshops have been organised for offenders, particularly those diagnosed with a mental health issue combined with alcohol and substance misuse, to help improve their wellbeing and to brighten up their surroundings.
So far, about 80 young men have taken part in workshops which will run until October.
Kieran Walsh, from Soft Touch Arts, said: “We are working with young offenders to create artwork that will be displayed on the wall of the visitors’ centre which is a very large area with bare walls.
“There are no fixed ideas about what the work should look like but we have all agreed it should have positive themes and that everyone in each group will have input into the final design.
“The offenders came up with the idea of producing life-sized silhouettes of themselves, which they decorate with images and phrases that tie in with the theme.
“They have all spoken really positively about what they have done.”
Natasha Garraway-Charles, Leicestershire Partnership Trust’s head of health care at Glen Parva, said the project offers a chance for participants to improve mental health, self-esteem and sense of achievement.
Alison Clarke, governor of Glen Parva, said: “Art is an excellent way of reaching out to offenders with mental health or substance misuse issues and it is great that we will have their artwork on display around the prison.”
A launch event on completion of the project is planned for World Mental Health Day in October.
The work will also feature in Leicestershire Partnership Trust’s and Bright Sparks’ annual open art exhibition at Leicester’s West End Gallery from Tuesday, September 29 to Thursday, October 8.
For more information on the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s prison health care services, visit:www.leicspart.nhs.uk
He first arrived at West Gate School, in Glenfield Road, in Leicester shortly after 10.30am. He unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of the special school after its £9.3m refurbishment.
The school has been upgraded as part of Leicester City Council’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
He then visited Soft Touch Arts in New Walk, Leicester, and finished the day at Loughborough College Arts Academy.
At West Gate School, Prince Edward saw its new facilities including a sensory warm water swimming pool and soft play room.
Acting head teacher Virginia Ursell said: “We had quite an amazing morning to be honest. “I think the children were very excited about it. We have been doing quite a bit of preparation work about who was coming and talking about the new building.
“It is the cherry on the top of the cake to have him come. He is such a knowledgeable man.
“He met a lot of the children and was handed a thank-you card by one of the Year Five students.”
She added: “I think everyone has felt what a special day it is and how lucky we are to have someone from the royal family come out. It puts the school on the map.”
Prince Edward then visited Soft Touch Arts, in New Walk, Leicester to officially open its new £1.1 million premises.
Business and strategic director of Soft Touch Arts, Christina Wigmore, said he was given a tour of the centre visiting many of the new facilities including a healthy eating kitchen, multi-sensory equipment, an exhibition space, a craft and textile room, music rehearsal and recording studios.
She said: “It all went to plan. He was so interesting and down to earth. He wanted to ask the young people about their experiences. He was very personable, open and friendly.
“It was a lovely opportunity for the young people. A lot of them would never have that opportunity.”
She added: That was the best thing about it, that the young people got to meet the prince.
“It was a lovely atmosphere. All the guests really enjoyed it. We are all buzzing.
“The young people felt great that someone like that was interested in what they were doing. It was a big confidence booster. It is also something that they are always going to remember.”
Soft Touch Arts, which provides creative art, media and music projects to help build skills and opportunities for vulnerable young people, has moved from its premises in Clarendon Park following a major refurbishment to improve its services to local young people.
Prince Edward then travelled to Loughborough to mark the official opening of the new Loughborough College Arts Academy where he also unveiled a commemorative piece of work.
He was joined by the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire Jennifer, Lady Gretton for his tour, which was led by Loughborough College Principal and chief executive Esme Winch.
Ms Winch said: “We have been honoured to welcome The Earl of Wessex to formally open our Loughborough College Arts Academy.
“We wanted to commemorate this very special visit by His Royal Highness with something more than a conventional plaque.
“This is a unique piece of work created by Prince Edward which incorporates a range of creative arts and which reflects our artistic heritage while using the very latest in production technology.”
Ms Winch added: “This serves as a tribute to His Royal Highness and as an inspiration to all our students and to future generations of visual and performance artists.”
In Loughborough, Prince Edward also enjoyed a range of student performances including contemporary dance, rock and acoustic music sets, multi-media video installations, photography, sculpture and fine art in the new recording, photography and dance studios.”
Companies are being asked to donate £200 in return for a brick at the New Walk centre, designed by young people using the charity which will incorporate their company logo and be displayed on a wall in the entrance lobby.
Soft Touch Arts business director Christina Wigmore said:
“We are calling on companies to help us with the final push towards the completion of Leicester’s first youth arts and heritage centre.”
“In return for their generosity and support, businesses will have their logo permanently installed within our centre.”
City building contractor Smallman and Son was the first firm to sign up after overseeing the refurbishment.
The firm’s head of business development Alexandra Kowalczuk said:
“We are delighted to lend our support to such a worthwhile cause.”
To be part of the Brick in the Wall campaign, call Christina Wigmore on 0116 255 2592 or e-mail: chris@soft-touch.org.uk or find out more information here
We then meet with charity Soft Touch Arts, we first met them at the business awards and felt able to help out with design and marketing services.
The charity uses arts, media and music activities to engage and inspire young people to help develop their social and employability skills.
As creative organisations, both Arch and Soft Touch agreed we could form a great partnership.
We’re thrilled to work with them on their mentoring and marketing needs as they push fundraising requirements to enable them to move into their new premises on New Walk.
Joe Nixon – Director of Arch Creative
A PIONEERING arts organisation has ambitions plans for the future after being handed the keys to its new city centre home.
Soft Touch aims to turn a derelict building on New Walk into a “buzzing new arts and heritage centre for young people” over the course of the next year.
It will take a massive fund raising effort but the seeds have already been sown and business and strategic director Christina Wigmore is hoping local firms will add their support.
She says: “In terms of buying and refurbishing the building, it’s a £1 million project. But it’s our dream building and it’s great to have the keys after a five-year search and the trials and tribulations of raising the finance needed to buy the property.”
Soft Touch has been based in Clarendon Park since 1995.
The participatory arts charity helps more than 1,000 young people a year via innovative creative projects that give them a new focus; getting them involved in things such as performance, music, film and literature.
The main age group is 13 to 19 and Soft Touch’s projects engage young people and help them to tackle issues that affect them and their communities.
But the organisation has long felt that a base in the city centre would enable it to reach more youngsters as well as expand on the activities it can offer. Eventually, a move to what was the Val Jones Centre – the city council’s old workplace nursery on New Walk – seemed the best bet.
Christina says: “In 2011 we went to visit 50 New Walk which had been empty for five or so years.
“We knew immediately it was the place to realise our vision of creating an amazing, buzzing new arts and heritage centre for young people – a place where young people who lack opportunities to participate in arts, culture and heritage can develop their creative potential, broaden their horizons and be part of the cultural life of the city.
“Clarendon Park has never been ideal as it is outside the centre and difficult for young people from different parts of the city to reach.We call it the Tardis and we certainly get good use out of it but it sits on a terraced street and the range of activities and numbers of young people we can work with is very limited, even though the demand is high.
“Young people love coming to Soft Touch, many say it’s like a family and they can do creative things they can’t do anywhere else. We offer great creative projects, activities and equipment and our staff are experienced at bringing out the talents and confidence in young people.”
Christina admits that there’s still plenty of work to be done to turn the dream into a reality and a lot more cash to find. But Soft Touch has got off to a great start.
She says: “It’s a very ambitious project for a small charity but we are confident we’re going to make it a great success.
“We’ve recently had some great news in getting through the first round of the Arts Council Capital Scheme.
“We have some development funding to work with, an architect and now have to raise the match funding of £200,000 we need to make our second stage bid a success.”
The building has massive potential for Soft Touch. There’s room for an exhibition hall, for studios and offices and space to create music and art.
The location will put Soft Touch close to the heart of cultural life in the city.
Soft Touch co-director Helen Pearson says: “We can forge greater links with Curve and Phoenix cinema. We will be a lot more visible.”
But Christina admits that the building is “currently in very poor condition”.
“We have a big 12-month fundraising campaign ahead to refurbish and turn it into the place we and the young people we work with would like,” she says.
“The location brings all kinds of opportunities for public and business engagement and support.
“We have exciting plans for outdoor art and performances on New Walk, working with the museum, inter-generational heritage activities and using the building for pop-up exhibitions, a healthy eating café, performances, art auctions and craft sales and digital projection artwork using the forecourt.
“We also plan to launch a number of new creative programmes to offer longer-term involvement in projects and the opportunity to develop creative enterprise skills.”
In order to win the support of the business community, Soft Touch organised a special business reception last month to introduce themselves to potential backers.
The work on bringing the building back to life has already begun.
Christina adds: “We had 33 volunteers from New Parks helping us get the building ready for the business event.
“We are running a five-year Big Lottery-funded creative community development project in New Parks and young people and parents have given up their time to help because they feel the work is making such a difference.”
Helen says: “The building will give us more revenue streams and make us more sustainable in the long term.These are exciting times for Soft Touch.”
Young people from the Soft Touch Arts charity joined architects rg+p to design a new arts and heritage centre in New Walk.
Architects and designers from rg+p organised two design sessions for the young ambassadors aged 15 to 18.
Included were a tour of the firm’s New Walk office, and an insight into how buildings are designed.
Soft Touch Arts use arts, media and music activities to engage young people and help develop social and employability skills.
Their work tackles problems such as gang culture, anti-social behaviour and unhealthy lifestyles, using creativity to give young people more positive choices in their lives.
Christina Wigmore, the charity’s business and strategic director, said: “This is a very exciting time for the charity as we open the centre and launch some additional programmes supporting young people who lack opportunities or have challenges in their lives.
“The centre will include music technology studios, a live rehearsal and recording area, an arts and crafts area and creative project space.
“Ensuring the building is attractive to young people by involving young people in the design is very important.
“The sessions with rg+p have really empowered and inspired the team to contribute to the future ‘feel’ of the centre. They have come away with a series of ‘mood boards’ and ideas that will be on display at our official launch on April 17.”
Rob Woolston, director at rg+p, said the sessions covered a wide range of design concepts.
He said: “We’ve given an insight into building design and encouraged the team to consider how colour, texture, materials and lighting can be used in different ways within the centre and its space.
“It was a very interesting project for the firm and a great way for us to share our experience with a community group that’s quite literally on our doorstep.”
Rg+p is a member of Leicestershire and Rutland ProHelp, through which the support has been brokered. ProHelp members provide free advice and expertise to not-for-profit groups. Firms keen to find out about how they can support charities or community groups, can e-mail Katharine Lightbown at Leicestershire Cares at:
katharine@leicestershire cares.co.uk
Leicester-based Soft Touch Arts offers a range of outreach projects for people of all ages. Using arts and crafts, mobile street sessions, health awareness campaigns and mentoring, their aim is to bring the community closer together.
The charity extended its work on Leicester’s New Parks Estate after receiving funding from BIG in 2011. From young to old, there’s something for everybody.
“The first year of our project has been a great success,” says Christina Wigmore, Business & Strategic Director. “We’ve worked with over 300 people, from ages 5-80, and we’re already having a big impact. New community groups have formed and started to deliver their own creative activities.”
On Wednesdays the sound of laughter can be heard from the Sharmon Crescent Tenants and Residents Association. Here a group of mums take part in weekly ‘On the Make’ sessions which teach women to create craft items from recycled materials, learn new skills and establish stronger friendships.
At New College, a group of children also gather weekly to tackle issues of bullying. Using design, computer skills and most importantly teamwork, the group’s goal is to develop an anti-bullying programme from their own perspective.
Soft Touch encourages people of all ages to be creative
Healthy eating and lifestyle is the focus at the Parks Primary School’s ‘Well Cool’ group. Children and parents are invited to attend together, to talk about the importance of a well-balanced diet, and learn to cook healthy, nutritious meals.
Back at Soft Touch Arts’ main base, creative mentoring sessions are offered for young people not in employment, education or training. Berwick is 17 and his passion is music. Working with his mentor to create his own track has boosted his confidence. “I like it here and the staff are nice,” he says. To him, it’s a place to make friends.
Dwain is only 14, and fell out of the education system two years ago. Soft Touch provides him with a place to go and express his creative talents, of which there are many. He now attends arts sessions three times a week and his mentors have seen a real change in his behaviour.
This development is also noted by his mother: “Dwain hasn’t been at school for two years and has had problems with his temper,” she says. “Soft Touch is working well for him because his temper isn’t a problem when he’s there.”
For both Berwick and Dwain, the Creative Mentoring sessions have allowed them to take pride in their work and build for the future. To the same degree, the staff and volunteers at Soft Touch have equal reason to be proud of what they’ve achieved.
Leicester City Council is planning to sell a former nursery on New Walk.
The vacant property, which had been earmarked in 2009 to become the new council-run art gallery is set to be sold to a community arts group.
The building is owned by Leicester City Council, and was previously home to the council’s nursery before it closed in 2006.
City mayor Peter Soulsby has agreed to sell the building to Leicester organisation Soft Touch Arts Ltd, which works to get young people involved in a range of arts and community development schemes.
The organisation, which is based in Clarendon Park, wants to buy the building and convert it into an arts and heritage centre for young people.
Sir Peter said: “This is a great way to bring a vacant building in a prime location back into use.
“The sale will also bring in much-needed money to the council’s capital funds, which can then be put to good use on other projects in the city.”
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Last week, I went to the launch of Big Up New Parks, a youth and community service, run by Soft Touch Arts, which does things in a totally different way.
Soft Touch is a voluntary organisation that works with young people to develop their activities, so what they offer is what young people actually want to do. They take their services to where young people are, rather than expecting young people to come to them.
Big Up New Parks is funded by the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Programme.
It offers creative activities in New Parks that are accessible, fun and relevant, and which aim to engage young people, their families and the wider community.
The project launch was brilliant. They had the Soft Touch Beatsmobil, where young people can learn to rap and create their own music tracks.
I had some delicious veggie curry and tuna pasta – healthy meals created and cooked by young people themselves.
There were lots of other things going on, including kids face painting and spray painting.
When I chatted to the young people who had made the food and performed their own music, I saw how much they enjoyed getting involved.
And I saw how preparing and serving a meal, or performing a rap they had written in front of family and friends, was a real boost to their self-confidence and sense of self-esteem.
Once young people and their families are on board and involved, Soft Touch Arts can offer other types of help and support, such as Positive Vibes, a programme which helps promote friendships and tackle bullying at school and in the community.
I think Leicester has some great youth services: not only Soft Touch Arts but charities such as Street Vibe, which has mobile dance pods they take out into the community so young people can do street dancing.
There are two key lessons to draw from the work these fantastic organisations do. First, youth services have to reach out to young people, not the other way round. Politicians often talk about groups of young people who are hard to reach, but Soft Touch and Street Vibe show, if youth services work in a different way, this doesn’t have to be the case.
Second, services which start by engaging young people but then work with the whole community to get families actively involved, can make an even bigger difference to local residents.
Good quality youth services can help unleash young people’s skills and talents, keep them off the streets, and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, too.
In the long run, this benefits us all, including saving taxpayers’ money.
I am a huge supporter of Leicester’s youth services and will continue to do all I can to champion them, both locally and in Westminster.
An ex-teenage offender who won a community award after turning his life around has helped to launch this year’s search for young achievers.
Since winning, the 19-year-old has spoken to other young offenders about his achievements over the past few years.
A few years ago, Ben spent several months in a young offenders’ institution for violent attacks.
But, after being recommended for a community arts programme, he now creates music and art and mentors others.
He was joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Jennifer, Lady Gretton, at Soft Touch Arts, the Clarendon Park, Leicester, centre he credits for helping him leave his past behind, to launch the Young Person of the Year 2011 award yesterday.
He said: “The award has given me more confidence and belief in myself. I think it’s helped gain trust from people, because a lot of people lost trust in me because of the things I’d done.
“When I came out, I decided I wanted more. I want a house, kids and a Ferrari one day.
“I want to stick with my music and get a job as well and then maybe I can save up and get my own studio.
“I’ve talked to other kids. Some won’t listen but there are those that will and say ‘I don’t want to end up there’ (prison).
“It’s something you don’t forget.”
The Lord Lieutenant’s Award, now in its fifth year, is open to teenagers living in Leicestershire.
There are five categories – bravery, kindness in helping others, improving the community, a voice for young people and creativity and innovation.
Ben picked up the creativity and innovation prize, in March, and then chosen as overall winner by Lady Gretton.
She said: “I thought Ben had done some amazing things.
“He’d obviously had problems in his life but he wanted to change and that’s wonderful.
“It’s wonderful to come here and see what he’s done here, it’s quite incredible. Young people do so much for society and these awards recognise that contribution.”
Ben’s mum Jean, who also attended the launch yesterday, said her son was now a different person.
She said: “I think if it wasn’t for Soft Touch, he would have gone further down the wrong side of the tracks.”
Kieran Walsh, a youth worker for Soft Touch who was previously Ben’s youth offending worker, nominated him for the award.
He said: “Ben really stood out as someone who had a lot of experience of positive and negative things and made the most out of all of it.”
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