We held our big end-of-year celebration last Friday 5 December, showcasing the talent of16-24 year old creatives taking part in our Creative Catalyst Thanet work placement programme.

Over the year, young people took part in paid and unpaid placements at local creative organisations in Margate and Ramsgate, including A+C animation studios, Ramsgate Radio, Don't Miss Margate, Clockhouse Museum, The Margate School, Shoreline Partners, Ark, Looping the Loop, Heritage Lab, Stress Matters, Ramsgate Lumiere and Nuerodivergent Friends in Thanet.

Last week's event was co-designed by young people on the Creative Catalyst Thanet peer group, including the decorations, promotional materials, guest list and music! Luke, who is working with Ramsgate Radio, was DJ for the evening. 

Jessica Rose chaired a series of lighting talks highlighting the young people's experiences of the programme as well as hearing from host organisations and funders. 

Creative Catalyst Thanet partner Eli Seath said:

"It started out as an employability programme for NEET young people age 16 – 24yrs and it's become much more than that. Thanet has the highest rate of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the South East with 10.7% of 18–24-year-olds out of work. Thanet has a growing creative sector and we wanted to link young people with opportunities in the sector, so it has become about keeping people in place. Many of the young people on the programme said that they didn't think there were any creative opportunities or creative young people like them in Thanet."

So, what have we achieved since 2024?

Quite a lot!

The stats since September 2024:

• 46 young people, aged 16-24, engaged 
• £26, 924 paid to young people on work placements
• 16 paid work placements for young people not previously in work, education or training
• 10 referral partners
• 17 local creative organisations providing work placements 
• 2350 hours of employment support delivered
• 3 young people in leadership positions on steering groups
• 3 young people receiving freelance work as a result of the programme 
• 2 young people (so far) in ongoing work as a result of the programme 
• £12,100 invested into host cultural and creative organisations working with young people
• 8 peer network meetings regularly attended by 10+ young people
• 4 young people on the crew for the UK Creative Festival 2025
• 1 celebration event organised by the young people 

We want to thank all the hosts, the participants, our funders Thanet District Council through the UK Social Partnership Fund and Margate Creative Land Trust and everyone who came to celebrate the young people's achievements. A huge thanks to everyone that made 2025 such a special year for Creative Catalyst Thanet. 

Keep your eye out for future events and opportunities in the new year!

Find out more about the programme.