From the Rubble

Building Confidence Post-Pandemic

This page shares a different kind of build – one from 2021 that wasn't about algorithms or frameworks, but about community, creativity, and the surprising resilience of young people. This was 'From the Rubble', a multi-arts project born out of the unique challenges of the pandemic. It was one of the most challenging facilitation projects I've worked on, flying solo - or rather duo with my project partner Suzie - with complete responsibility for successfully delivering the project and achieving positive community impact.

The Call Out

In 2021, while studying my Software Development degree and keeping workshop facilitation up part-time to support myself, I spotted a funding call-out which caught my interest. The Wheatley Foundation was allotted money from Creative Scotland’s Youth Arts Emergency Funding, and were offering individual artist bursaries of £5,000 to bring their art form directly to the Wheatley social housing community. Additional special mention, of course to the other partners and initiatives shown in the main image above, which all supported the fund.

My mind immediately went to my good friend and frequent collaborator, Suzie Bell. Suzie's a brilliant artist, and I knew our combined skills would be a perfect fit. I pitched her the idea: apply for the fund and deliver free, multi-discipline youth workshops where the kids could creatively process their experiences during the pandemic. She was on board right away, and together, we began to flesh out a plan for a two-stage, multi-art project.

Our vision was this: Stage 1 would be a short, intense summer holiday program, giving young people a taste of various art forms through taster workshops with different artists. Then, once school returned, they'd come back for a run of weekly sessions in Stage 2, where they would use the skills they'd learned to build their own creative projects. We designed the mornings to be about general confidence and skills building – getting to know each other and gently exploring how they'd been affected by the pandemic. The afternoons, though, were where the magic happened: we brought in an animator, a DJ, a filmmaker, and even a professional footballer turned career coach, each leading sessions in their specialties.

Our original summer project flyer (give or take a little redaction)

Rule #1: Adapt

To our absolute delight, the funding was approved! This was a huge win, not just for us, but for the young people we hoped to reach.

One of the project's greatest strengths, I quickly learned, was our adaptability. We hit the ground running, canvassing parents who were renting housing from the Wheatley group, drumming up interest in the project. The feedback we received was invaluable – and surprising. "Ditch anything online," they said, "they're well and truly over that since the pandemic." Families were more concerned with their kids returning to social life and connecting in person, rather than maintaining maximum distance.

We had initially planned to run some remote workshops to kick things off, but we took that feedback to heart. We completely updated our plans to meet the stringent COVID guidelines for in-person activities. It's strange to think back now and remember the specific guidance we had to follow – running high-energy workshops to keep the kids engaged, all while ensuring everyone over 12 was masked up. It required constant vigilance and creative problem-solving.

Our solution? We adapted, and spent as much time as possible leading activities outside. When a Scottish summer actually delivers sunshine (not always a guarantee!), it's always a treat to be outdoors anyway. This flexibility meant we could still deliver the engaging, in-person experience that the families wanted, safely and effectively. It was a testament to how crucial it is to listen to your community and be prepared to pivot when necessary.

A small snippet script developed by the kids in the second stage of the project

Confidence, Connections, and Celebratory Snacks

We finished the 'From the Rubble' project with just enough budget buffer left for some well-deserved, celebratory snacks at our final workshop – a small but satisfying victory in itself! But the real successes were far more significant.

The evaluations from the young people were fantastic. Universally, they reported finding the project fun, and crucially, they all stated that their confidence had increased. This was a core goal of the project, and seeing it realized was incredibly rewarding.

Undertaking this project while in the middle of my Software Development Masters and juggling other facilitation work was a significant challenge, but also incredibly empowering. It wasn't just the young people whose confidence was boosted. I gained newfound pride and added confidence in my project management, problem-solving, and adaptability. Although I was in the middle of a career pivot, I knew that these skills would serve me well in my future in tech.

It was bittersweet when the young people asked if we'd be back for more, as the project was time-limited. However, with impeccable timing, the Tannahill Centre where we ran the workshops announced their own free youth group. We enthusiastically pointed the young folks there, ensuring their journey continued with great youth worker support.

If you'd like to read more about the Tannahill Centre, or donate to their community projects, check them out here