New research released by the Roundhouse in Camden shows a huge Social Return on Investment of its broadcast and digital programmes for young people.
The research, carried out by Social Change UK, found these projects to help young people gain transferable skills, such as public speaking and self-belief, as well as technical skills and industry connections that go on to support them in the world of work.
It shows the huge social and economic impact creativity can have on the lives of young people. For every £1 invested in film and digital projects by the venue, £42.25 of value is created, which equates to £2,876,168 each year. For audio projects, for every £1 invested, £21.88 of social value is created, generating £889,648.
The Roundhouse spends around £85,000 each year on these projects which cover a range of opportunities, from workshops and masterclasses to intensive longer-term projects. They cover a range of disciplines, including film, TV, live streaming and a host of digital projects. Alongside this, their in-house audio platform, Transmission Roundhouse, creates award-winning podcasts.
The Roundhouse also provides music and performance opportunities for 11–30-year-olds, as well as a programme for freelancers and entrepreneurs, all underpinned by an experienced youth work team. The youth programme costs around £3.3m to deliver each year, with the Roundhouse currently working with over 8,000 young people a year – a number it wants to increase to 15,000.
Roundhouse Head of Broadcast and Digital Derek Richards says: “These incredibly high values show the phenomenal impact creative projects can have on young people – from self-belief to securing work.
“We shouldn’t underestimate the importance of young people having access to creative opportunities at every stage of their development.
“When everyone has equitable access, we can raise the creative potential of the whole of the UK and generate millions of pounds worth of social value.”
