Creative Opps

As part of our Mentorship programme, we hosted a mixer. This was an opportunity for mentees and mentors to meet other pairs and network. We also had a panel of esteemed creative industry professionals at the event. Anna Haywood was one of our guest speakers. As an integrated project lead, manager and producer she has worked at organisations such as Redwood BBDO, OLIVER Agency and EE for their brand partnership campaigns with Google /YouTube, adidas and Saatchi & Saatchi. She spoke about her entry into the creative industry and how her interests developed, shifted and changed. She imparted amazing advice to our cohort and we were pleased to facilitate this valuable event.

We've written a blog piece for Music Education Council about our history, the work we do and our current paid work placement schemes and mentorship programme. Full piece here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eGHEqtVF

As we wind down this year's programme and start the next, we've asked members of our current cohort to express the importance of mentorship to them. Mentor Thom Denson was paired with mentee Ishwari Yardi. She wanted to gain more confidence in her professional life and Thom was able to impart knowledge about networking with belief and navigating the PR, communications, and sports world. We're pleased to have helped facilitate this relationship!

Creative Opps Mentorship Programme for 2024 - 2025 is now accepting applicants.    We’re delighted to share that the Creative Opps Mentorship Scheme is returning for 2024-2025 and we’re open for applicants!    Are you a young person aged between 16-25, based in London and wanting to break into the Creative Industries? And are you an experienced Creative Industries professional that’s looking to volunteer your expertise with an inquisitive young mind looking to walk in your footsteps?    Creative Opps will be forging 25 pairs who will meet once a month for up to two hours, over six months - remotely or in person (or hybrid). Mentors will provide mentees with support and advice, acting as a sounding board to their queries and sharing their experiences.    In past schemes, mentees have expressed interest in filmmaking, music, acting, marketing, radio, event production and much more and our current mentors work at organisations like leading entertainment communications agency inside/out, Greenacre Films, BBC, Netflix, TIME Magazine, The Guardian as well as freelancers in acting, sports, podcast, radio and much more.   The deadline for prospective mentees is October 28th 2024. For more information - including how to apply as a mentee and mentor - visit this page https://lnkd.in/ehwgFhp6   Email our Mentoring Co-ordinator Michelle Kambasha at [email protected] for any further questions.    Please share this to any relevant parties.   We look forward to hearing from you!

We are excited to be partnering with Whitefox Publishing to launch this internship!

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Our next spotlight interview with mentees in our 2024 Creative Opps Mentorship Programme is with Wisdom Charis. Her goal is to break into the film and TV industry and has been paired with accomplished film producer Lily Slydel who works for Greenacre Films. Get to know Wisdom below and look out for future posts from more people on this year’s scheme. Name: Wisdom Charis Age: 20 When did you start having a passion for the creative industries? I started having a passion for the creative industries from the age of around four. I remember watching a girl in the year above me perform 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' for our school talent show and being absolutely mesmerised by the fact her telling a story with this song was able to move all the kids and adults in the room to tears. I eventually realised I wanted to make stories that could do the same thing. Which element of the creative industries interests you the most? Writing for film, TV and theatre interests me the most about the creative industries. I love the fact that through working together with others you can bring to life stories that can connect with people from an array of backgrounds who you’ll probably never meet and don’t personally know. Yet through the sheer power of art and the universal nature of the human experience, you’re still able to relate to them and tell stories they can see themselves reflected in. I think Film, TV and theatre truly can change people’s lives and outlooks. As someone who grew up not seeing very many people who looked like me living around me, I know for a fact that film and TV were respites for me in which I could not only see myself but also learn more about what I’m capable of. The power of storytelling is that a good story can actually stay with you all your life and provide you with a community. What inspires you to keep going after your career? What inspires me to keep going after my career is the fact that I just really love creating worlds and connecting with people. I can't imagine any other job giving me the freedom to do so as much as this one. I also think the fact that I still don't see very many people who look like me working in development and behind the camera inspires me to keep going. Until there are more of us in positions of power to get things made, we'll still only see a narrow range of stories, and I believe there are so many more out there waiting to be told. Wisdom is a Roundhouse Trust Resident Artist. See some of her work here: https://lnkd.in/euucdbwb

Rosie Gault is one of our 2024 Creative Opps Mentorship Programme mentees. As someone who wants to pursue in the music industry as a singer, she’s been paired with PR extraordinaire mentor Rebecca Mason, who is a senior at renowned agency inside out agency.   Get to know Rosie below and look out for future posts from more people on this year’s scheme.    Name: Rosie Gault Age: 20   I first started feeling passionate about the creative industries when I was around ten years old. I'd been asking my parents for singing lessons for a while already, and this was when my wish was finally granted. I've always felt a sense of 'lightness' in my body and mind when I sing that I always come back to, I need that feeling. As I sang more and more, I developed into a songwriter as well, as a result of the lockdown in 2020. This is still one of my favourite outlets for thought; I love turning emotion into art.    I am most interested in the music side of the creative industries. Music has always been a central part of my world, since childhood, I read a quote, 'Colour is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time', and I feel this really speaks to me and explains my view on music. It's the soundtrack you can choose for your life, it can take a moment and capture it. It's casual magic, really.   I'm inspired to keep working on my music for a few reasons. One has always been looking at those around me who so fearlessly chase their dreams. Another is looking back at how I have always been so determined. I had a plan to move to London once I turned 18 ever since I can remember and actually fulfilling that dream took a lot of effort and even more courage - why slow down now? When these motivations aren't effective enough, recognising that there are actual people out there listening to my music always does the trick. Listen to Rosie's music and connect with her here: https://lnkd.in/ejQgf5Pw

New Paid Work Placement for 18-25 year olds in Islington! 🎤 Production Intern at Off The Kerb Productions 🎤 This is a fantastic opportunity to gain experience at one of the leading comedy management and comedy promoters in the UK. The role pays London Living Wage. You can read full job descriptions and apply at https://lnkd.in/dzAYFPJC #workopportunity #londonjobs #creativejobs #media #events #creativity #Islington #opportunity #comedy #agency

New Paid Work Placements Now Live for 18-25 year olds in London! ⭐️ Events Assistant at the Finsbury Park Trust (must be based in Islington)  📚  Freelancer Community Outreach Intern at Whitefox Publishing (London based) Both opportunities pay London Living Wage and are a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in events management and community outreach 🥳 You can read full job descriptions and apply at https://lnkd.in/enbEXmcC #workopportunity #londonjobs #creativejobs #publishing #events #creativity