Using art to make an impact in Scotland
Impact Arts, a charity that supports people experiencing inequality through creativity, received funding from the Bairdwatson Charitable Trust.
Impact Arts is a charity based in Glasgow that uses creative activity to support people experiencing inequality. It works with young people, families, adults and older people through programmes that use visual and digital arts, performance and music to support learning, wellbeing and progression. Its employability programmes support young people who may have experienced challenges in formal education or barriers to employment, using creative activity alongside practical support to help them explore their next steps.
The Bairdwatson Charitable Trust has supported Impact Arts’ creative employability work since 2023, with three awards totalling £35,000.
Impactful Starts is an employability programme for young people who are not in employment, education or training, including those who may face barriers such as poor mental health, disability, neurodivergence or experience of care. The programme combines creative activity with practical employability support, personal development and individual guidance, helping young people build confidence, develop skills and explore their next steps.
The first Bairdwatson-supported Impactful Starts programme in North Lanarkshire gave young people opportunities to develop creative and employability skills, gain SQA accreditation and explore routes into education, training and employment. Participants worked across areas including stop-motion animation, creative writing, sound design and visual arts, alongside CV development, interview preparation and support to explore their next steps. One participant progressed to college, while another moved into volunteering and training in community arts.
The following Bairdwatson-supported programme expanded delivery to Glasgow as well as North Lanarkshire. Twenty young people took part, with 18 completing the programme and 12 positive progressions recorded, including re-entry to education, new training courses, volunteering placements and a job interview. Ten participants achieved SQA-accredited Employability Awards at Levels 3 and 4.
The programme also supported participants to progress into college, training and volunteering, with three North Lanarkshire participants securing college places for the following academic year. Among the 18 participants who completed the programme, 83% showed increased engagement with learning, improved mental health, and greater confidence and resilience.
Across the programmes, creative activity provided a different way for young people to engage, develop skills and work towards their goals. Participants explored areas including podcasting, animation, stained glass, clay modelling, zine making, sound design and creative writing, while receiving individual support with areas such as CVs, interview preparation, applications and progression planning. Activities were designed around participants' interests, giving them opportunities to try new skills, work with others and develop their own ideas.
In Glasgow, participants explored the city's history and its relationship with colonialism through visits to Glasgow Cathedral, St Mungo Museum and a Radical Glasgow walking tour. They also took part in a two-day stained-glass workshop, creating designs based on places, foods and sayings that reflected their experiences of living in Glasgow. Their work was later displayed at a public exhibition at Glasgow Cathedral, which was viewed by hundreds of visitors.
The North Lanarkshire group explored visual arts, sound design and creative writing, as well as attending a weekly podcasting course at New College Lanarkshire. Three participants went on to secure college places for the following academic year. The groups also used audio and visual techniques to create a short film together, bringing together skills developed throughout the programme.
Watch the film created by the young people.
Read the Impactful Starts Zine created by the young people.
For some participants, the changes were reflected in everyday activities as well as longer-term plans. One young person initially found using public transport and managing lunch breaks challenging. By week eight, he was travelling independently and taking part more confidently in group conversations. He completed SQA Level 3 units in Communications and Practical Abilities, developed creative skills in animation, visual design and podcasting, and applied for a hospitality course and a café volunteering opportunity.
A participant described how the programme had helped despite his initial anxieties:
| “At first, despite my anxieties, I was instantly welcome and felt safe being in it. I learnt to really enjoy sound design and stop motion.” |
The programme also helped participants build connections with each other. The organisation reported that friendships formed during the project gave young people peers they could continue to connect with as they moved into their next steps, including familiar faces when starting college. For participants in North Lanarkshire, travelling to a new location and attending college also provided opportunities to develop confidence in travelling independently. The combination of creative activity, practical employability support and individual guidance gave participants space to explore their interests while developing skills for their next steps.
| “I really enjoyed Impact Arts. I’ve tried some new stuff and also met new nice people. It was really fun thank you. I will miss the class.” |
The latest project at a glance
- 20 young people participated
- 18 completed the programme
- 12 positive progressions recorded
- 10 SQA-accredited Employability Awards achieved
- 83% of completers showed increased engagement with learning, improved mental health, and greater confidence and resilience
- 3 North Lanarkshire participants secured college places for the following academic year
Participants developed creative, communication and employability skills through activities including podcasting, animation, visual arts, stained glass and creative writing.
Case Study written by Impact Arts: K's Story
Background:
K was referred to the programme via Skills Development Scotland and initially attended drop-in sessions with his mum. Early conversations highlighted that supporting his mental health was a priority, and he hoped to build on existing skills while gaining new ones - particularly around employability. K quickly became an enthusiastic and engaged participant. He worked on his CV and interview skills, explored local opportunities in education and employment, and actively contributed to group discussions. His curiosity extended to creative tasks, especially the stop-start animation project, where he explored sound design and confidently shared preferences for audio elements.
K also embraced visual design activities, researching ideas for his vinyl cover and inclusion poster. His confidence grew, and he began sharing personal inspirations, including his favourite music, which influenced his vinyl artwork. A highlight for K was the podcasting class at New College Lanarkshire. He contributed ideas, selected a theme, and developed a script with minimal support. Each week, his confidence increased, and he became more independent in the planning process.
Outcomes: Social Skills & Wellbeing:
K demonstrated significant personal growth. Initially unsure about using public transport or navigating lunch breaks, by week 8 he was confidently managing these tasks independently. He became more socially active, engaging in group conversations about films, food, and even helping decide where to get pizza for the end-of-programme showcase. K reported a marked improvement in his mental health and self-confidence, attributing this to his participation in Impactful Starts. He successfully completed two SQA Level 3 units: Communications and Practical Abilities.
Creativity:
K developed a strong understanding of creative mediums, working with paper, wood, acrylics, paints, adhesives, and varnishes. His vinyl cover project showcased his ability to make thoughtful design choices. In the animation project, he helped select and edit audio using Ableton sounds and contributed to the final sound design.
His podcast work involved theme development, scripting, sound editing using Audacity, and recording (final edit pending). These activities highlighted his growing technical and creative confidence.
Participant Quote & Future Plans:
K took time to explore his next steps, eventually applying to New College Lanarkshire for a Hospitality for Employment course. He also applied for a café volunteering role to gain hands-on experience and is seeking support from Routes to Work to obtain his food hygiene certificate. Staying busy is vital for K’s mental wellbeing, and having a clear plan has been beneficial. His journey through the programme reflects a meaningful transformation in confidence, creativity, and readiness for future opportunities.
Read more about the Bairdwatson Charitable Trust.