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By Tony O’Reilly-
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A pioneering Southampton programme is helping disabled, learning-disabled and neurodivergent young people take their first steps towards careers in the arts and cultural sector, providing participants with practical experience, professional support and a renewed sense of confidence.
The Assemble programme, delivered by Mayflower Theatre in partnership with Southampton City Council’s Employment Support Team (EST), Blue Apple Theatre and Minstead Trust, has given local young people the opportunity to explore the wide range of careers available behind the scenes in the creative industries.
Fourteen young people recommended and supported by the EST took part in the programme, gaining hands-on experience across several areas of theatre, including Front of House, marketing, technical theatre and participation.
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The initiative is designed not only to introduce participants to the creative sector but also to tackle some of the barriers that can prevent disabled and neurodivergent people from accessing meaningful employment.
Through workshops, theatre visits, meetings with industry professionals and supported work placements, participants were able to develop workplace skills while learning more about the realities of working in the arts. The programme provided an important opportunity to build confidence in an environment where they could receive tailored support throughout their journey.
The EST played a key role from the beginning, helping identify suitable participants and supporting them through recruitment, programme induction, training and work experience. That continued involvement was designed to help participants remain engaged and overcome potential barriers as they progressed.
The programme also recognised that entering the creative industries can require more than technical skills. Participants were encouraged to develop confidence, communication skills and an understanding of different workplace environments while building relationships with professionals already working in the sector.
Young adults aged between 18 and 30 were also given the opportunity to train as Creative Support Workers. The roles provided peer support to participants, creating an additional layer of encouragement and helping to make the programme more accessible and inclusive.
The Assemble programme forms part of a wider national initiative led by the National Youth Theatre and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. Its broader ambition is to create lasting change in the creative industries by improving the way deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people are recruited, supported and retained.
The Southampton programme is therefore part of a much larger effort to address inequalities within the arts and ensure that talent is not overlooked because of disability or neurodivergence.
Patrick O’Sullivan, Head of Participation at Mayflower Theatre and Mayflower Studios, said the organisation was pleased to be working with Southampton City Council’s Employment Support Scheme on the initiative.
He told The Eye Of Media.Com in a statement: “Inclusivity is at the heart of Mayflower’s work,” he said, adding that Assemble aims to engage more than 100 young people who identify as disabled, neurodivergent or deaf over the next two years and create new pathways into the industry.
The programme’s conclusion was marked by a celebration and marketplace event, where participants were recognised for the workplace skills they had developed and presented with certificates from Mayflower Theatre.
The event provided an opportunity to celebrate individual achievements while highlighting the potential of collaborative approaches to employment support.
Councillor Sarah Bogle, Leader of Southampton City Council, said creating opportunities for everyone to succeed was central to the city’s Growth and Prosperity Plan.
She said partnerships such as Assemble were helping young people overcome barriers, develop confidence and acquire skills that could lead to meaningful employment.
The councillor also praised the work of Mayflower Theatre, Blue Apple Theatre and Minstead Trust in creating opportunities that might previously have seemed inaccessible to some young people.
The programme comes at a significant time for Southampton’s arts and cultural sector, with the city offering a wide range of opportunities for people interested in creative careers.
However, accessing those opportunities can be challenging for people who require additional support. Through combining professional experience with tailored employment assistance, Assemble is seeking to bridge that gap.
Rather than focusing solely on traditional theatre roles, the programme introduced participants to the breadth of careers that exist within the industry. From technical work and marketing to audience-facing roles and participation projects, the programme demonstrated that there are numerous routes into the cultural sector.
The involvement of peer support workers also provided an important example of how young people can play an active role in supporting others while developing their own skills.
Organisers say the success of the programme demonstrates what can be achieved when cultural organisations, employment services and community groups work together.
For the participants, however, the impact is perhaps best measured in the confidence and experience gained during their time in the programme.
What began as an opportunity to explore potential careers has provided 14 young people with practical workplace experience, new skills, professional connections and a clearer understanding of what a future in the creative industries could look like.
The longer-term ambition is to build on that success. With Assemble aiming to engage more than 100 deaf, disabled and neurodivergent young people over two years, organisers hope the programme will contribute to lasting changes in the way the creative sector identifies and develops talent.
The initiative for Southampton represents more than a theatre programme. It is an example of how targeted support and partnerships can remove barriers to employment and help ensure that young people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to contribute to — and build careers within — the city’s vibrant arts and cultural community
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