Building on a successful programme of pilot phase of work in 2014 (funded by Brighton & Hove City Council and Artswork), the main goal of Beating the Odds was to carry out mixed-methods research to help us to explore, understand, and evaluate the impact of involvement in creative arts projects for young people across the South East, including those who are vulnerable or socially excluded. Supported by the Hollick Family Charitable Trust and a genrous philanthropic gift, we worked with multiple arts organisations and creative arts projects including those using dance, drama, music, photography, and multiple-arts approaches. The diverse range of arts oragnisations working with us included Glyndebourne; Miss Represented (Brighton Dome); Modelling Change (Thames Valley Partnership); and AudioActive.  Our work was closely tied in with Our Future City, the local city-wide initiative to grow creativity and nurture well-being in children and young people through arts and culture. More information can be found in this short report on the research.  

This project involves close collaboration with Professor Ed Hughes, Head of Music, and Professor Janet Boddy, co-director of the Centre for Innovation and Reserach in Childhood and Youth.  Dr Fidelma Hanrahan is the post-doctoral research fellow on this project.

Beating the Odds

Beating the Odds creative arts project partners