In our research with care experienced young people and Abertay University, the top priority and key recommendations were to establish places and spaces for young people to create and develop together.

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Throughout 2020/21, our 'creative home' was online and we evolved some amazing new projects as a result:

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‘There are no words . . . !  You and your team have completely embraced (if embrace is actually an appropriate term for the impact of a global pandemic) this COVID world and, as ever, walked in the shoes of your clients through active listening and consultation. What you have achieved in a few weeks, is what would make anyone’s annual report look impressive.  Simply life-changing!’
 

Ruthanne Baxter, Museums Services Manager, University of Edinburgh

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But in the background too we were, as a founding member of a new partnership and community interest company, buying The Pipe Factory in The Barras and Calton ward of Glasgow's East End. The Friends of The Pipe Factory CIC was formed with INCH Architecture + Design and Articulate amongst the founding members.  Our goal crept one step closer in early 2023 with news that we had helped secure a £1.9m capital grant from GCC/Scottish Government.  The dream to bring a much-loved historic building back to life and secure it for the long-term benefit of the community, young people, creative practitioners and social enterprises may become a reality by 2025! Articulate and The Friends also played a pivotal role in the 100th-anniversary programme for The Barras market throughout 2021.

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In the meantime, the first full physical manifestation of Articulate's commitment to The Promise is a 700 m2 Glasgow city centre studio that is a powerful symbol of what we expect for care experienced young Scots.  The Articulate Hub, our parallel digital space development, has also received support (via The Promise Partnership's Keep the Promise Fund) and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to evolve various types of cultural hubs rooted within the nation's arts and creative community.  Each will be co-designed to support the well-being, enterprise and employability potential of its care experienced young people in a way that is rights-respecting and trauma-informed. 

 

The team will now continually develop a diverse programme of arts, design, creative learning and cultural activities that will support the young people's needs, aspirations and interests over the period of our ten-year plan.