Young Roots, Your Roots
The aim of the Young Roots, Your Roots project was to develop a framework based on CapeUK principles to enable the development of creative programmes with and for young people, which focus on cultural identity and the understanding and promotion of community cohesion.The project worked with children and young people aged between 5 and 14 in three pilot locations, Hull, Calderdale and Leeds. A steering group of representatives from CapeUK, Government Office, The Children's Fund and Creative Partnerships oversaw the project.
The Hull project sought to promote community cohesion through a wide range of arts activities - including film, drama, a comic book, poetry, and dance - which took place mainly in school and community settings as part of extra-curricular provision.
In Leeds the merger of Matthew Murray and Merlyn Rees High Schools into South Leeds High School had significant implications for the school community as well as the wider community. Matthew Murray is situated in a diverse community with a high concentration of families from the Asian subcontinent, whilst Merlyn Rees is situated in a predominantly white community. Both communities are very diverse and complex with deep rooted histories and traditions. Creative practitioners worked with pupils and teachers from both schools and with two community organisations - in a variety of settings.
Calderdale developed a number of small scale twinning projects between schools in different parts of the district.
Download a copy of the project toolkit Young Roots, Your Roots - Creativity, Schools and Community Cohesion from the Publications section of this website.