Children and young people

Post-16 vocational qualifications in art, creative and media subjects are meeting the needs of learners, according to findings from Qualifications Wales.

The review, part of a national programme across a range of employment sectors, includes qualifications in performing arts, media and communication, crafts, creative arts and design, and publishing and information.

Together these sectors employ 34,900 people in Wales with an annual turnover of £1.7bn.

While the report findings suggest that art, creative and media subject qualifications – which are available in English and Welsh – are meeting the needs of learners, it also identified areas that should be improved.

These include: that some qualifications need additional content; that creative apprenticeship frameworks should be reviewed as some no longer included funded qualifications; and that there is demand for one framework qualification to be made available in Welsh.

Gareth Downey, Senior Qualifications Manager at Qualifications Wales, said: "Our review findings show there are a number of strengths to the current range of qualifications, but that some areas require attention.

"We have been working with awarding bodies and other stakeholders to address the issues identified.

"This includes recommending that the Welsh Government review the apprenticeship frameworks in the sector and that awarding bodies update the content of some qualifications, alongside increasing the number of Welsh-medium qualifications available to learners.”

Young people’s music charity Youth Music has announced a ninth funding round of its NextGen fund.

The fund is designed to help emerging artists and professionals develop the skills needed to participate in the music industry and to equalise access to the music industry for young creatives. 

Grants of up to £2,500 are available for 18- —to 25-year-olds, but applicants can be up to 30 if they are d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent. Youth Music says it is encouraging applications from the North East, East of England, East Midlands, and Northern Ireland, in particular.

While performers are welcome to apply, the fund is also available to producers, A&Rs, managers, and agents, as well as roles in the music industry that may not yet have been defined.

To date, the fund has invested nearly £650,000 in 276 early-stage musicians and emerging music industry creatives.

Applications for the ninth round are now open and will close on 28 June, with notification given in September. Further details on Youth Music’s website.

A tenth round is scheduled to open later this year, with an application deadline of 15 November.