The Margate School National Saturday Club is the first in Kent
We’re thrilled to be joining the National Saturday Club network, which has been running since 2009 and gives 13-to-16 year olds the opportunity to study subjects they love for free and has a proven track record of making a difference to young people's lives. This is a unique opportunity in Kent and we have an exciting team and programme lined up.
But we need your help… in order to run the sessions we have applied for some grant funding (which we are awaiting the outcome on) and fundraising via Crowdfunder, which will open up access to some additional funds. We have set a fundraising goal of £17,500, which will also support Tech Club at The Margate School, which started in 2021.
As an additional heart-strings-pull, we need to talk about art provision for young people - art has been pushed down and out of the national curriculum and there is now no foundation course at a dedicated art school in Kent for young people to join when they finish at school. National Saturday Club fills part of this void, so please give what you can, many small donations are as important and valued as fewer large ones, and of course we’re looking for both. All donations will be processed through the TMS charity - if you pay tax, please fill in the Gift Aid information, as that will release an extra 25p for every pound given, so again will definitely make a difference.
Please also share this news as far and widely as you can to help us to achieve our goal
If you are from a school, youth group or other community organisation or know young people that would like to take part, please send us a message using this link
There's more information below the photograph
Image credit: National Saturday Club at City & Guilds of London Art School
We have had start up meetings with the National Saturday Club, which have been inspiring and encouraging, so are excited at this next stage at TMS and hope that you will join us in making it happen.
TMS is a centre of creativity in Margate High Street and as part of our work, we are collaborating with the National Saturday Club, a charity giving 13 to 16-year-olds across the country the opportunity to study subjects they love at their local university, college or cultural institution for free. Joining the National Saturday Club is a unique opportunity to learn new skills, discover talents, meet new people, and find out more about further education, higher education and rewarding careers.
The club will consist of weekly Saturday sessions exploring and developing skills and finding pathways to further study and careers in a friendly and welcoming environment, encouraging experimentation within the arts.
By raising this money, we will be able to bring fun and engaging activities for 13 to 16-year-olds at TMS, including analogue and darkroom photography, graphic design, printing, digital skills, poster and zine design.
Separate from National Saturday Club, Tech Club at The Margate School offers a glimpse into the exciting world of tech with a selection of cool digital creativity to inspire and engage young people and the funds raised will enable us to continue the Club which has run since 2021.
We are building a generation of young people who are agile and resilient problem-solvers with the confidence to access pathways into education, apprenticeships and employment. The Saturday Club sessions will be open to all 13 to 16-year-olds, and Tech Club will be open for 4 to 16-year-olds, with a particular focus on reaching young people from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds.
Discover more about National Saturday Club HERE
You can find out more about Tech Club HERE
You can read more about The Margate School HERE
What your donation will help us deliver
The Margate School Art&Design Saturday Club will give young people the opportunity to develop practical skills in graphic design, visual communication, screen printing and photography experimenting with both digital and analogue photography and working with professionals from within the creative field with a focus on getting them ‘industry ready’.
Young people will develop new skills in art, design, teamwork and communication during the activities. The workshops will be delivered in an informal setting that will engage with those not necessarily suited to an academic environment.
The final work will be shown at Somerset House, London and at Margate Festival of Design, which is now entering its third year.
Up to 15 sessions will be run regularly for 13-to-16 year olds on Saturday mornings from the beginning of March to July.
Tech Club offers a glimpse into the exciting world of tech with a group of friendly and knowledgeable facilitators. There's a whole selection of cool gadgets and technologies that are sure to inspire.
Tech Club, which we commenced in 2021, will be run for 10 monthly Saturday mornings from February as a drop-in workshop within a welcoming and encouraging space, where children (aged 4 to 16) and their families can explore, learn, and play with tech, with the guidance of helpful experts.
Why it’s a great idea
Saturday Club will be new to Thanet, providing access to extra-curricular creative learning opportunities for 13 to 16-year-olds, the group will be open to up to 30 young people
Tech Club opens up the exciting world of tech, including 3D modelling and painting, interactive artworks and electronics sessions
Creation of volunteering opportunities
Raising aspirations for young people and being part of the National Saturday Club network
Continuing and developing further the Community and Sculpture Garden in the centre of Margate
It will bring greater footfall into Margate's High Street
More creative and social activities indirectly create a safer neighbourhood
Building understanding between different local groups: Art is a powerful and humanising way to communicate experiences across cultures and social groups
Generating community discussions on social issues through the artwork created
Addressing and reducing social inequalities by reaching out to schools and diverse local neighbourhoods
Engagement with the arts can open the door to improved academic performance, employability and more
Engagement with arts and culture will improve physical and mental health
The programmes will reduce loneliness and isolation
Contribution to creating a sense of community identity and pride in place
A unique opportunity in Kent specifically for young people to learn from industry professional
The provision will be a small step towards substituting for the access course which has recently closed in Canterbury, leaving no art-specific courses at a dedicated art school available in Kent for 16-year-olds
Steps to get it done
December: Finalise workshop programme
December/January: Promotional and dissemination plan established
December/February: Recruit and book tutors and volunteers
beginning March to July: Deliver workshop programme
July: Summer Show at Somerset House
July/August: Project evaluation
October: Margate Festival of Design
Please note, all funds raised will go directly to The Margate School to fund the running of Tech Club and our local Saturday Club programme. This funding will be match-funded by the National Saturday Club for our local Saturday Club programme in-keeping with their unique partnership framework which delivers the national programme of events and activities including Masterclasses with industry, cultural visits, the Summer Show and Graduation Ceremony, and a Tutors’ Programme.
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