Oasis Academy MediaCityUK students help shape national call for better access to creative opportunities

Students from Oasis Academy MediaCityUK have helped shape a major new report calling for every young person to have a fair chance to discover and develop their creative talents. 

Levelling the Pitch, the interim report from the Young Creatives Commission, explores the barriers preventing young people from accessing high-quality arts and creative opportunities. 

And the experiences of students at Oasis Academy MediaCityUK reveal an important challenge, of having opportunities on your doorstep doesn’t necessarily mean they feel within reach. 

During a visit from the Commission, students spoke about their interests in songwriting, dance, writing, poetry, textiles, gaming and digital media. But despite being based just a short distance from MediaCityUK and its wealth of creative organisations and employers, students described how it could still feel “like a separate world whose opportunities were not intended for them.” 

Their experiences also showed that simply telling young people what is available isn’t enough. Students valued face-to-face guidance, mentoring and opportunities to work alongside creative practitioners who could help them understand what was available, how to take part and where their interests could lead. 

It is a challenge Oasis is actively working to tackle. Through the Oasis Entitlement, every pupil is guaranteed access to experiences beyond the classroom, including opportunities to play a musical instrument, take part in a school production, visit a theatre, art gallery and museum, and experience universities and places of work. Across Oasis communities, our Community Spaces also provide activities outside the school day alongside youth work and one-to-one mentoring, helping young people access new experiences and trusted adults who can support them.  

At Oasis Academy MediaCityUK itself, students benefit from enrichment delivered with community partners, while its Community Space provides activities and events during evenings, weekends and school holidays.  

Because access isn’t just about putting an opportunity in front of a young person. It’s about ensuring they have someone in their corner who spots their interests, encourages them and helps them see that opportunity as something they belong in. 

The Young Creatives Commission is calling for stronger, sustained relationships between schools, youth services, cultural organisations and industry. Together, these can create trusted routes for young people to access opportunities, keep engaging with them and discover where their interests could lead. 

It’s an ambition we wholeheartedly share. Through our academies, Community Spaces and partnerships, we want to keep breaking down the barriers that can put those opportunities out of reach, ensuring every child has a champion and a genuine chance to discover where their talents could take them. 

We’re incredibly proud of our MediaCityUK students for sharing their experiences and helping shape this important national conversation. 

Read Levelling the Pitch here: https://www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/levelling-the-pitch.