Good news

Goodthings is happy to announce that we can now offer the Arts Award at silver and bronze level.

Arts Award is a qualification which supports young people to develop as artists and arts leaders.

Young people set their own arts challenges, explore local arts activities and the professional arts world, and undertake a leadership project.

The award appeals to a wide range of young people aged 11-25, and can be achieved at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels in any art form, although goodthings can only currently offer it at Silver and Bronze. It is accredited by QCA (Qualifications Curriculum Authority) at Levels 1, 2 and 3 on the English National Qualifications Framework. Trinity College London is the awarding body for the Arts Award and work in close partnership with Arts Council England. Further information can be found at www.artsaward.org.uk

Arts Award aspires to support any young person to enjoy the arts, develop creative and leadership skills, and achieve a credible national qualification. Arts Award re- flects many different interests and ambitions, respects individual development and helps young people to define their creative future

Our first cohort will be with the Parent Lead and Community Education group in Bedford, PLACE. If you are a youth group or community organisation that would like to offer the Arts Award to your young people then please do contact us.

17th August 2010

Kayte was happy to be invited to lead a deep networking activity at the opening of the Bear Pit Art Gallery in the infamous Bear Pub on Bedford High Street and kind hosts of Creative Bedfordshire's August networking meeting. Using metaphor cards the group, and some members of Bedford's drinking public, used imagery to describe what they wanted to get from the network and what they had to offer. Using the pub as a learning venue was a fun experience, not least because of the free wine. Creative Bedfordshire is the hub of creative enterprise in Bedfordshire, which responds to the needs of individuals and businesses, an up to date resource, valuable to the creative sector and the wider business community countywide, a link to local support, promoting Bedfordshire's creative sector locally, nationally and globally. Their next meeting is on the 2nd Sept at Esquires, Bedford.

5th August 2010

The first ever Walkshop took place this week and saw representatives from private business, social enterprise and local council arrive to discuss the benefits and challenges of the private sector and third sector working together. Walkshops are the brainchild of Chris Lee at Social Enterprise East of England, and provide a fresh approach to the usual training and networking format. The first session was facilitated by Kayte at Goodthings. The weather was kind to us and the circular walk and chat in the sensory garden was a welcome break from the usual training room environment. If you have an idea for a Walkshop topic, or route, or would like to attend or lead a walkshop please contact Chris on Chris.Lee@seee.co.uk.

Alternatively follow us at www.twitter.com/walkshop

18th June 2010