Tools for the Trade

Tools for the Trade is a work-based learning programme targeting NEET young people or those not attending or responding to formal education settings.  Learners work in our professional facilities to create films, music and run a radio station.

Working alongside artists and industry professionals, learners develop skills and tools they would need for the trade by creating product – a film, radio broadcast, pod cast or music CD.  This product is then disseminated to a wider community via the internet, through partnerships, including BBC Raw Talent, Leeds Young People’s Film Festival and the West Leeds Festival. 

We use the arts as tools of re-engagement, and as a means of raising self-esteem and aspirations. We aim to provide young people with a route back to training and education, the necessary generic skills to make this successful, as well as industry-based experience and skill.

Interplay has a strong track record for running Tools for the Trade from its base in Armley. We are an Approved Provider for Education Leeds and are regularly commission by EOTAS and Alternative Learning to deliver the programme for their young people.

Philosophy and Practice

Interplay’s work is learner-centred, providing significant opportunities for the young people involved to take a lead and develop their own ideas, skills and experience, whilst challenging attitudes and expectations.

The flexible approach and high staff ratios enables Interplay teaching to respond more to the individual young person and their learning plan targets.  Access is also central to both process and product, with Interplay targeting young people who are often excluded from mainstream activities and are disengaged due to complex and multiple social/economic reasons.

Interplay gives students the opportunity to tell their own stories through a variety of different media; encouraging them to explore film, drama and music to create work of an extremely high standard.

Our ethos is to guide young people towards projects that explore their creative strengths, working around subjects and within genres that are of interest to them. Projects in the past have ranged from producing and marketing their own CD to devising and filming their own short films.  

Each individual that comes to Interplay will develop new performance and media production skills through the tools for the trade programme; furthermore they are encouraged to express their own interests and literally direct their learning in the direction that most engages them.

Tools for the Trade is founded on raising self-esteem of the young people involved and it is often the first step on a ‘journey of re-engagement’, where young people gain practical life skills and learn media skills along the way. Good relationships with support workers and schools are an essential element of success of the young people attending the project.

Facilities

We have a huge range of professional standard facilities at our base in Armley, including:

Film cameras (industry standard)

Top of the range state of the art

Recording studio (Software includes Reason, Logic, Ableton Live, Protools, Garage Band etc, as well as a huge variety of outboard)

6 Pro Audio Workstations Including all software above and midi keyboards

Full Film Editing Suite

Radio broadcast suite

Performance rehearsal spaces

Accreditation

As of September 2010, we will be offering a range of flexible accreditation, ranging from Entry to Level 3. We will be part of the Foundation Learning offer, delivering STEP-Up (Skills Towards Enabling Progression) from Entry 3 Award to Level 3 Diploma.

We will also continue to deliver the Arts Awards, where young people can gain Bronze (Level 1), Silver (Level 2) and Gold (Level 3) Awards which are soon to have UCAS points attached to them.

Each student will create an Individualised Learning Plan and will have the option of choosing from a huge range of Units to suit their interests and tastes. Each Unit carries a number of credits, which can be built up in bite-sized chunks to achieve awards. The accreditation also carries Performance Points for schools to record for their pupils:

Success

Interplay does more than simply work with young people - we inspire them to own their learning and develop their skills way beyond the sessions run during Tools for the Trade.  This may mean taking part in other projects we run, or going on to study further.

Jason attended Tools for the Trade in 2000 and went on to graduate from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BA (Hons) in Performing Arts. He now runs arts based sessions for adult with learning difficulties. Russell went on to study at Leeds College of Music and is taking an FE course in Music Production. Gav is currently on the programme and is applying, with our support, to Leeds College of Music to undertake the Popular Music Course.

Lewis joined Tools for the Trade from Abbey Grange in 2009. In Year 9, Lewis was at risk of underachieving and was not getting on with the traditional school system. He joined Tools for the Trade at the beginning of Year 10, attending one day a week. He immediately connected with the learning programme and tutors and, during the course of the year, worked incredibly hard. At the end of the year, Lewis attained a Gold Arts Award (A-Level equivalent qualification) whilst also re-engaging with his school work.

Course Commitment

Tools for the Trade can be either a one or two day per week course. As we deliver accreditation that fits in with the needs of the individual, there is no specific length of course as we encourage learners to progress at their own rate. Some young people attend every week for a school year, whilst others join the course at various times as and when they need to. We work closely with schools, support workers, the young person and their families to ensure that they are fully supported.

Referrals

Referrals can be taken from schools, EOTAS, Alternative Learning, Connexions PA’s or on an individual basis.  We are also are able to undertake contracts with schools for larger groups either at Interplay or within the school site.

Please contact Jude Wright or Steve Byrne for further details of Tools for the Trade or to make a referral.

Tel: 0113 263 8556

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