In a UK-first, Sunderland has led a city-wide programme to create a ‘cultural eco-system’ designed to benefit children and young people living in poverty.
Sunderland and the wider North East have some of the highest child poverty rates in the UK, with all local authorities in the region above the national average.
The city is delivering a three-year £1.5m programme called Culture Start to build a ‘protective framework’ around children in its most disadvantaged areas to help close the UK’s entitlement gap around access to culture.
Now in its second-year, Culture Start’s research and learning partner, the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion at the University of Sunderland, has published its impact findings to date.
Professor Graham Thrower, Head of the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion at the University of Sunderland, said: “A key innovation of Culture Start is working collectively as a city to create a cultural eco-system for children and young people. This has enabled a step change in the city and the hope is it will provide learning for other places facing similar challenges.”
The programme is led by Sunderland Culture on behalf of partners working across culture, education, health, housing, youth services, and the community – with a focus to support 8,000 children in the most disadvantaged areas, delivering year-round activities directly in neighbourhood sites, such as schools, youth centres and community hubs with free travel, food, and materials.
For many children and young people, disadvantage is cumulative. Challenges linked to low income, insecure housing, parental stress, and limited access to enrichment opportunities can compound over time.
The evaluation shows that Culture Start is helping to build resilience, confidence and aspiration among children and young people aged five to 18.
Nick Malyan, CEO of Sunderland Culture, said: “More than 15,000 children and young people in Sunderland have lived experience of poverty. When heating, food, and housing are precarious then cultural activities and experiences are often seen as a luxury. We know however that positive cultural experiences can be game changer. It’s more than a ‘nice-to-have.’ Cultural participation is proven to build life skills, foster a strong sense of identity and self-worth, and improve life chances and social mobility. We see culture as being part of the essential scaffolding that helps improve life outcomes for children.”
To date, Culture Start has worked with 3,000 children with 6,439 engagements in arts and culture with a social impact value of £4.6m.
Culture Start is supported by a £1.2m Place Partnership award from Arts Council England through the National Lottery, and generously funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Sir James Knott Trust, and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: “Culture Start is an inspiring example of how sustained investment in creativity and culture can make a real difference to the lives of children and young people. By placing culture at the heart of a wider partnership across education, health and community services, Sunderland is helping to address barriers that too often limit access to excellent art and culture and the life choices and chances that can offer.
“This feels like a watershed moment for the programme, as it builds on its early success and looks ahead to its next phase. We hope to see it go from strength to strength in its third year, continuing to inspire and support even more children and young people across the region.”
Partners include Sunderland City Council, University of Sunderland, Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust, Together for Children, Sunderland All Together Consortium, Children North East, Gentoo, InspirED (Sunderland Local Cultural Education Partnership), NE Youth, and Sunderland College.
There has been a decline in arts education in UK schools. Figures from the Cultural Learning Alliance show a 42% fall in Expressive Arts GCSE entries since 2010, and 27% decline in art teacher numbers. The Museums Association states more than 40% of English state schools are no longer entering any pupils for music and drama GCSEs reflecting a systemic shift in the UK education system deprioritising the arts.
Sunderland has produced notable cultural celebrities including Kate Adie, George Clarke and Lauren Laverne, the actress Gina McKee, author Terry Deary, and musicians Emeli Sandé, David Stewart, and Bryan Ferry.
Ferry, grew up in a council house and worked in the local steel factory before going on to study Fine Art in Newcastle.
Bryan Ferry said: “It’s important to have a cultural education. I was so lucky to have some great arts teachers and it opened up so many doors for me. I wish Culture Start all the best.”
In addition to delivering cultural activities, Culture Start has worked with Children North East to support arts and culture organisations in ‘poverty proofing’ their venues and operations, making them more accessible to children and young people experiencing poverty.
Poverty proofing helps museums, galleries and arts organisations identify and remove financial and social barriers, ensuring that their spaces, workshops, and other activities are welcoming for all children and young people. The approach combines auditing, consultation and staff training so that no child is excluded or stigmatised because of low income.
Culture Start also offers ‘Ignite bursaries’ of up to £500 to young people experiencing hardship to help grow their artistic skills; 81% of bursary recipients surveyed said they “have more confidence in my art form” and 66% said they had “more confidence in other aspects of my life.” To date, almost £50,000 has been invested in young people’s creativity.
Delivery partners across the city are calling for the programme to receive continued support and funding.
Nick Malyan said: “Culture Start is about meaningful impact on those who need support the most, who might be impacted by poor health, poor housing or have educational and emotional challenges. Children and young people in poverty often have a history of feeling let down or abandoned. Culture Start has provided sustained engagement that has allowed relationships, confidence, peer networks, and trust to develop. This should not be lost.”
The evaluation on Culture Start’s impact has highlighted six ‘golden threads’: Building confidence; developing supportive relationships; opportunities for fun, creativity, and encouragement; managing challenges and problem-solving; a sense of accomplishment and achievement and developing aspirations around creativity and culture.
