Over the last year A.N.D.ʼs Headstart programme has given 40, year olds from across East London a headstart in the creative industries.

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2 Over the last year A.N.D.ʼs Headstart programme has given 40, year olds from across East London a headstart in the creative industries. By helping young people develop their creative skills in real-life scenarios, outside school, the programme is a bit like scouts for the creative industries. Each ʻHeadstarterʼ is placed in a group with an industry professional, and works with them throughout the year meeting up every-other week in the evenings - last year the groups were themed around Photography, Film-Making, Events Promotion and Social Media Journalism. As the year went on the boundaries between the groups became increasingly porous and the Headstarters started working on more collaborative projects together. Twenty-two Headstarters secured had secured an Arts Award by the end of the year.

3 THE HEADSTARTERS

4 Theyʼre letting you in their world and letting you know what theyʼve learnt over a number of years. Itʼs great that they trust us with their kit as well. MUZZAMMIL, 18, FOREST GATE

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6 Muzzammil started shooting videos of ʻstupid, random stuffʼ - with a friend in year 10. ʻGoing to someoneʼs event and just filming some guy. It had no point to itʼ. Heʼs been involved with a Headstart in the Constant Pictures film-making group for a few years now - but has only recently started taking it seriously. Sixth-form college isnʼt working out, he has his ʻown dodgy problems at homeʼ. He knows if heʼs going to build up the kind of portfolio that could get him into film-school in three years time, he needs to start now. ʻEelynʼs got loads of years under her belt. Winstanʼs got loads of years under his belt. Anyway, nobodyʼs going to give you loads of money to go out there and do projects. So you canʼt really go out there an learn yourself on your ownʼ. One day heʼd like to have his own production company, but thereʼs a problem there. ʻIʼm a shit talker - I canʼt talk infront of crowds. I canʼt talk to clients.ʼ This year has forced him to try producing as well as directing. He produced and co-directed a music video for Bilal, an up and coming Asian artist from Newham. He also produced a ten second ident for Headstartʼs Two Nations programme. Itʼs nerve racking ʻmaking call sheets, talking to clients, talking to the crews, organising dancers.. but you have to go and do it - you havenʼt got another option. You just deal with itʼ.

7 How many people can say at my age they covered the BBC Hackney Weekend and were given a free reign to take the pictures, edit them and give them to the BBC? ROSALYN, 19, LEWISHAM

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9 Headstart has helped Rosalyn to develop basic photography skills in a group run by Tim & Barry - two hip-photographers who have worked for Nike, Adidas and documented underground music scenes in London for the last ten years. Rosalyn documented the opening night of the Free Word Centreʼs politics and the Olympics exhibition, a paid job that carried considerable pressure. ʻI didnʼt know if I could meet what they wanted me to do. I was really nervous. But like after doing it I was just like ʻyeah I can do it - itʼs not that hard.ʼ Shortly afterwards, Rosalyn was commissioned to photograph the likes of XXX XX X Xat the BBC Hackney Weekend. It was the first time Ros had done anything like it - but it was also the first time she had been to Hackney Marshes. The programme has taken her to all kinds of other places she hasnʼt been before ʻgenerally Iʼm either in my borough, or central London.ʼ Rosalyn also has made a new friend, Fran who she hangs out with. Fran has already been to University - ʻwhen I met her friends I was like Iʼm the babyʼ. By the end of the summer Rosalyn has secured a place to study Law at Manchester Metropolitan - but she doesnʼt see that as an odd choice after doing Headstart. ʻHeadstart is helpful for creative industries, but the skills you gain arenʼt just for creative industriesʼ.

10 Iʼd rather be doing Headstart stuff and school stuff - itʼs just more interesting. JOE, 17, STOKE NEWINGTON

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12 ʻI lived on the maddest budget, so I havenʼt really eaten anything for the last week. All Iʼve had for the last week is a Banana.ʼ Joe has just been to Croatia on shoestring to an electronic music festival. Heʼs been involved with Headstart, as one of the Social Media Journalist group for two and half years, developed his writing on his blog ʻYoung Londonerʼ. Most of his posts combine photography, reportage and a video that explore the London 2012 Olympics. In the last year his photos have been exhibited at The Free Word Centre and with the help of Fran Plowright an ex-bbc journalist he has developed relationships with Lord Michael Bates who has been campaigning to raising awareness about the Olympic Truce, and Amy Marren one of Team GBʼs youngest Paralympic swimmers. He wants to do History at University but it means labouring through A-levels in Maths, French, History and Music ʻItʼs so academic - Iʼd rather be doing Headstart stuff - itʼs just more interestingʼ. Making radio has made him more interested in it. ʻIʼve started to listen to it more. My Dad leaves it on in the kitchen. So after heʼs gone, I switch it back on and listenʼ. Both his uncles are journalists and his Grandad wrote an important book about Journalism which is still read today. But he isnʼt interested in leaning on them for help. Heʼd rather go to people like Benji Lanyado from The Guardian and Chris Skinner from Absolute Radio who know and like his work. ʻTheyʼre better contacts anywayʼ.

13 I feel like weʼre adults here and weʼve got responsibility. AVNEET, 16, NEWBURY PARK

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15 Avneet has only been in Headstart for the spring. Sheʼs had a taste of being in a team organising an event, sheʼs been to Brick Lane and The Barbican - both places that she hadnʼt been before. She likes the freedom of Headstart compared to school, ʻhere you concentrate on what you enjoyʼ. She likes having a more adult relationship with the people looking after her, ʻEdna is a like a friend, colleague, slash ʻperson I look up toʼ - I look at her and see how she is and it makes me want to be like herʼ. Avneet has also found out more about what she can do - and is thinking about changing her A-level options. ʻWhen I did the workshop, alot of people were saying that I was really good and I should do it more often. They thought I was experienced when I wasnʼt. And that really showed me that Iʼm good at it ʻI liked it but I was too scared to go down that roadʼ

16 I went to Uni in Sheffield - things were a bit easier to do. If you wanted to do an event, you could do it within a week - you could find a venue and find everything you need - in London thatʼs just not possible. KAYO, 25, DAGENHAM

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18 Kayo is older and more experienced than most of the other Headstarters. He has a Masters and is considering applying for PhD. He regularly performs his poems on pubs, radio stations and theatres and works freelance in schools with Apples and Snakes an educational charity that works with poetry in schools. He brings the full force of his enthusiasm and contacts to Headstart, comparing events, compiling music playlists and bringing in poets from his network. Kayo knows that videos and documentation of the the programme will make it easier to show to employers that events are ʻnot just something I did at Universityʼ. But Kayoʼs Headstart is not really about gathering work experience - he has work in the creative industries and if anything itʼs leaving him jaded. ʻI was attracted because I wanted to rekindle that desire to put events onʼ. Taking inspiration from Lucy, Edna, Tim and Barry and people like Heather Ring and Jack Thomas who made presentations at Headstart core Days, Kayo has been thinking about how he can stage events that incrementally build a community. ʻI donʼt want it to just be something that a bunch of people turn up to and then they go again and leave separately and never think about what theyʼve seen again. Iʼd prefer if they met each other, contacted each other and were talking about it afterwards.ʼ Kayo is now working on a plan for an event that brings people together who work in the creative industries to talk about topical issues away from work.

19 I hadnʼt really met anyone like Fran - someone who is really in your face and honest. BIANCA, 19, DALSTON

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21 Bianca doesnʼt see the point of getting drunk. In the last 18 months she has written for a small magazine, interned for a top photographer, worked freelance for an eco-arts agency and promoted a music night at a bar in Whitechapel - as well as trying to do her A-levels. Sheʼs considering applying to read English at Cambridge - not a usual step for someone from her school. Headstart is the one extra-curricular activity sheʼs done consistently for the last two years - thatʼs not just because it has afforded her great opportunities - to travel to the Olympic museum in Lausanne, to interview George Aligiah, visit Radio 1 and the Guardian. But because Headstart has given her the support of people she sees as being ʻgenuinely passionate about their job and will find opportunities for the young people they work with.ʼ ʻIʼve learnt alot about myself doing this. Iʼve learnt how to work with different people. Because before Headstart, I hadnʼt really met anyone like Fran - someone who is really in your face and honest. Alot of people in British culture are very diplomatic; everything has a second meaning. The good thing with working with Fran is you know straight up how she feels. You meet people like Fran and you realise thatʼs the kind of person you need. It wasnʼt for Fran I probably would have left.ʼ