PLUS Summer Projects

The short of it:
The PLUS Summer Programme was six weeks of four, three-week projects in which a large team of highly trained/stressed artists and youth workers tried to help groups of fairly unruly young people to take part in arts activities. The overall aim was to encourage improvement in their reading, writing, maths, self-confidence and their ability to go without a cigarette.

Follow the links to see, hear, feel and virtually smell what this was like. Plus tips on how to achieve the phoenix of success from the ashes of chaos.

The longer version:
The PLUS Summer Programme came out of a collaboration between Charnwood Arts, Local Youth Organisations and National Government Funded Organisations. The Programme ran in the context of piloting and reviewing a raft of (PLUS) materials. The initial goal was to work with 30 to 40 young people, selected within the criteria of the PLUS strategy. These criteria include young people who have been excluded, or have excluded themselves socially or educationally. By working without the usual educational provision and by using art activities as a way of improving self confidence, basic skills, creativity and the ability to learn, we hoped to effect the immediate and longer-term behaviour of our 'Learners'. 


The PLUS Strategy for literacy and numeracy is designed to provide a structured programme of support for young people (aged 10 – 17) and is an integral part of the Government’s Skills for Life Strategy. The primary aim of PLUS is to ensure that each young person has an appropriate and coherent package of literacy and numeracy support and continuity of this learning in the community. Through the PLUS Strategy, young people will be provided with the opportunity to build their skills and knowledge at a pace appropriate to their individual needs, learn in contexts that are meaningful to them and which increase employability and gain accreditation in line with nationally recognised standards.