The Agency 2019

The Agency

photography by James Allan 

The Agency has come to Blackhorse Workshop! In May we recruited a talented group of 15-25 year olds from Higham Hill and Walthamstow who have ideas that need to happen. In July, they pitched their project ideas to a panel of esteemed judges – and three projects won £2000 each.

Agents on the programme are receiving professional training, support, funding and advice they need to make their project benefit our local community. Ideas include: addressing London’s youth homelessness issue, gang violence, celebrating heritage and culture, and mental health awareness.

THE AGENCY GOES TO WESTMINSTER

Funded projects had the opportunity to speak in Parliament about their ideas for creating change in our community. The event, hosted by Marsha de Cordova MP, had over 100 attendees and gave Agents the opportunity to pitch their ideas and gain support from a wide network of professionals.

photography by James Allan 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Funded projects are now receiving 1:1 support from specialist producers, £2000 of seed funding, and entrepreneurial training throughout 2019. The three funded ideas have events coming up in our community:

Non-Stop Boxing developed by Tauheed (aged 15)
A boxing club aimed at diverting young people away from violence and getting involved with knife crime. Taking place in Walthamstow on the following dates, to keep updated follow them on Instagram:

  •  Saturday 23rd November, 5.30-7.30pm
  •  Saturday 30th November,  5.30-7.30pm
  •  Saturday 7th December, 5.30-7.30pm
  •  Saturday 14th December, 5.30-7.30pm

 

Essence by Faith developed by Faith, Rennique and Azrael (aged 17, 16, 15)
A series of workshops and a natural hair treatment for afro-black hair, aimed at young women with the aim of building confidence, self-love and countering the use of carcinogenic products. Workshops and product sales will be taking place on the following dates, to keep updated follow them on Instagram:

  • Friday 22nd November 2-6pm (location TBC)
  • Blackhorse Workshop Christmas Market, Friday 6th December 6-10pm

 

Ignite by Dorea , Tori and Asiya (aged 16, 15, 15)
Responding to the lack of real life skills learnt in school, this trio have developed a 10 week programme of sessions for young people where they can learn everything from budgeting and finance, first aid trauma skills and ways to deal with conflict. Events are taking place on the following dates, to keep updated follow them on Instagram:

  •  Launch event on Saturday 9th November 2-5pm at Gnome House
  •  Workshop 1: Friday 22nd November 5.30-7.30pm at Gnome House
  •  Workshop 2: Friday 29th November 5.30-7.30pm at Gnome House
  •  Workshop 3: Friday 6th December 5.30-7.30pm at Gnome House

 

MENTORS

We’re looking for Mentors to support our Agents with their business ideas. If you’d be interested in becoming an Agency Mentor, please get in touch with Xenia at xenia@blackhorseworkshop.co.uk

FOLLOW US

As the project continues we’ll be posting on Instagram.

The Agency UK is a Battersea Arts Centre and Contact programme devised in partnership with People’s Palace Projects. Current partners include: Blackhorse Workshop, National Theatre Wales and Fablab Belfast. Funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund and London Borough of Culture – a Mayor of London initiative, with support from City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust and Airbnb. The Agency is a programme originally conceived by Marcus Faustini in Rio de Janeiro where it is delivered by Agência de Redes para a Juventude. The UK pilot (2013 – 15) was funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.