Heritage Lottery Fund has identified young people as a priority audience. This is because people under 25 years old are:
- the future champions for heritage;
- an under-represented audience in many heritage organisations;
- able to bring new and fresh ideas to your organisation;
- often keen to learn new skills and get work experience;
- best placed to encourage other young people to work with or visit you;
- often looking for creative and positive things to do and places to go; and
- the future heritage workforce.
Heritage might not seem like something that young people are excited about, but our research shows that the richness and diversity of the UK's heritage can inspire young people from all backgrounds.
We are committed to ensuring that young people are represented in the work that we do. This commitment is not only demonstrated through a dedicated grant programme for youth led projects (Young Roots) but also by challenging all applicants to engage young people with their heritage projects.
Cymryd Rhan - Get Involved
We asked a group of young people from Mess Up The Mess Theatre Company in Ammanford, South Wales to produce a short film demonstrating that young people do have an interest in their heritage. They rose to the challenge and produced a film, ‘Cymryd Rhan - Get Involved’ which challenges the stereotype of the disengaged teenager by getting involved in a heritage project in their own, free time.
The group of 12 attended weekly evening meetings, as well as weekend filming sessions over a 12 week period. They participated in brainstorms, research, writing and music sessions, and filming and editing workshops during the preparation stages. They then led the directing, acting and filming on location, and also helped edit the final film.
The film will not only be used as a tool to encourage young people to get involved directly but will also be used to help future applicants think of ways to involve young people in their projects.
Jennifer Stewart, Head of HLF in Wales, said: “We’re delighted with the film as it’s a unique and contemporary piece of work, which is sure to capture the imagination of other young people. It’s brilliant to see a film about heritage that has been created by young people, as they are ultimately the ones who will keep our heritage alive in the future.
"We continue to invest in young people as the future custodians of our heritage. Through our Young Roots grant programme we have helped make a big difference to young people’s lives, helping them take up new opportunities and often influencing their life choices and their attitude towards their future and their wider community.
“So far in the 6 years the programme has been running, over 1,500 young people have taken part in Young Roots projects in Wales and had the chance to learn new skills, while exploring their heritage and finding out what has influenced who they are today. We want more young people to do the same.
“We also want applicants to all our other grant programmes to consider how they might involve young people in their proposals and realise the creativity, energy and enthusiasm they can bring to a project. By giving young people a role, they not only gain new skills themselves, but in turn inspire others to learn about heritage or take part in a project.”
Jacob Thomas, aged 17, from Ammanford has been attending Mess Up The Mess for nearly three years, where he has been involved in numerous heritage projects, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Jacob, said: “I had great fun creating our film, and learned lots of new skills, like directing for example. I have always been the one who follows orders rather than gives them, so wasn’t sure how I’d take to directing, but it came really naturally to me and I felt comfortable with the authority!
“As well as directing, I also composed a song, helped with the recording and co-wrote lyrics, so I got to try my hand at lots of new things, which was great experience.
“Since being involved in Mess Up The Mess, I’ve become more interested in my local history, and as a result even decided to take History at A level. I’ve realised that heritage isn’t just in textbooks, it’s all around us, and I think we get this across in the film.
“I really hope the film gets a good response at the Eisteddfod. It’s a bit nerve wracking other people seeing it for the first time, but I’m so proud of our achievement and looking forward to finally sharing it.
“Projects like these are so important to the area, as it gives us a chance to learn new skills, get to know more about our local area and make new friends.”
Ceriann Wiltshire-Davies, aged 14, from Brynaman, another member of Mess Up The Mess decided to join after a family friend suggested it as a way to develop her confidence. Ceriann, who wrote many of the film’s lyrics, has been attending the theatre company for 18 months.
Ceriann said: “I’ve always been interested in writing and it’s my ambition to become a writer one day, so this project has been great experience in helping me to achieve my dream.
“Since joining Mess Up The Mess, I’ve been involved in a few heritage projects, and I feel like I’ve gained more confidence as a result, which was one of the reasons I wanted to join in the first place. We have great fun, and I’ve made some close friends and learned how to work as a team, in addition to the more practical skills I’ve learned along the way.
“I think the film will work really well in getting other young people to take an interest in their heritage, as they’ll see how much fun we had getting involved in our history. The film is pretty bizarre, especially as it’s a fusion of three genres, so there’s something in it for everybody.”
Sarah Jones, Artistic Director at Mess Up The Mess added: “I cannot express how proud I am of the group’s achievements in creating this film. From start to finish, they have been in charge of the entire process, from deciding on the content to editing the final cut.
“It is wonderful that the Heritage Lottery Fund encourages young people to take part in projects like this, as they truly make a difference to the individuals, whether it’s by helping to give them more confidence or learning new skills."
Interview on Radio Wales
Interview on Radio Cymru
