Apply for the new Culture Exchange cohort with Social Ark!
Social Ark is recruiting 15 young people aged 18-25 year olds for a new Culture Exchange 2024 Programme, where lived experience and social enterprise is at the heart of shared learning. The programme is commissioned by Foundation for Future London through our creative placemaking-based Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, generously funded by East Bank founding partner Westfield Stratford City.
The fully-funded programme will run June to October 2024 and will explore culture across Bradford, Nottingham and East London. The programme is open to anyone living or working in East London and wants to attract people who are interested in developing their own social enterprise project. No qualifications are needed, just energy and curiosity to learn.
The Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund is an ambitious five-year programme that aims to invest £10 million into the local communities of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest, supported by retail destination Westfield Stratford City. This flagship project will provide new jobs, learning, training and educational programmes through arts, culture, innovation, public realm and creative placemaking.
More information about the programme
“This was the best programme ever, when I started I wasn’t sure what to expect. Now I’ve got friends nationally, and I’ve also set up my own social enterprise.”
— Programme participant
Included in this fully-funded programme:
- 15 interactive learning workshops
- Exchange weekends to Nottingham & Bradford
- Introduction to social enterprise
- Support to set up your own project
- Access to grants
- Mentoring
- Influential networking
- Tailored additional support if needed
This programme could be right for you if you are:
- Aged 18-25yrs old & from East London
- Ever thought about your future development
- Passionate about community change
- Curious about different cultures
- Can commit to the full learning programme (June 2024 – October 2024)
“Getting the £5k and learning support has really taken my business to the next step.”
— Programme Participant
“I have met so many great people, I’m now being supported to make my own music EP”
— Programme Participant
The Culture Exchange 2024 programme builds on a 2023 pilot, which trained up 50 young people who had access to paid work experience and 2.5 hours of tailored weekly mentoring. In addition, 27 received Apple iPads to ensure digital inclusion throughout the programme and 17 received £1,000 grants for community-based projects.
Watch the Culture Exchange 2023 documentary
Read the Culture Exchange 2023 report
For more information, see https://www.socialark.co.uk/culture-exchange-programme