Welcome! 👋
Creative Opps works alongside young people to create change — for themselves and their communities.
Our newsletter is our way of staying connected, sharing what we’ve been up to, and spotlighting exciting opportunities, events, and resources you might want to get involved in.
Thank You for Supporting Creative Opps in 2025
As we close out the year, we want to share a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of the Creative Opps community this year — our members, mentors, partners, facilitators, employers, and the incredible young creatives who continue to shape this space with their ideas, talent, and energy.
This year has been one of real growth and momentum. Together, we:
Supported our largest group of mentees yet, helping emerging creatives build confidence, direction, and industry connections.
Strengthened our membership community, with Creative Circles becoming a lively hub for collaboration, leadership development, and shared learning.
Delivered a wide range of paid placements across creative organisations, leading to promotions, extended roles, new industry contacts, and next steps in education and employment.
Continued to build a welcoming, inclusive space where young people feel seen, supported, and connected — and where their creative practice and professional confidence can thrive.
We are so grateful for the generosity, time, and care that so many of you have poured into Creative Opps this year. Whether you shared opportunities, opened doors, offered guidance, or simply showed up with curiosity and kindness, you’ve helped make 2025 a year full of meaningful progress and community impact.
Thank you for believing in this work and for helping us build a more inclusive, supportive, and joyful creative industry. We’re excited to keep growing with you in 2026. If you’re interested in what we do, email [email protected], we’d love to speak to you.
In This Issue
What We’ve Been Up To — A workshop with Adeyinka Akinrinade from Stage One Producers and Burphy Zumu from Clearview Research
Creative Opps Membership — Members’ Workshop with Evie Harman.
This Month’s Job Opportunities — New paid roles with Cracking Slate, Ort Gallery & Beacon Films
Events & Programmes — Workshops and creative training from Company Three, Turf Projects & Pick Up The Mic
Funding Opportunities — Apply for Future Proof Development Lab & Alliance for Youth Organising Grants
What We’ve Been Up To
Workshops
Burphy Zumu — Inclusive Research & Community Insight
Burphy introduced members to ClearView’s approach to meaningful, youth-centred research. Through interactive exercises, he explored how to design surveys, interviews, and engagement methods that genuinely reflect the experiences of underrepresented communities.
Adeyinka Akinrinade — Pathways into Theatre & Creative Practice
Adeyinka shared her journey as an actor, producer, and theatre-maker, offering an honest look at navigating the acting world and building a sustainable career in theatre. Members learned about producing work, finding opportunities, collaboration, and developing confidence in their creative voice.
Meet Our Members
Meet our Members is where we spotlight brilliant creatives from our Creative Opps Membership scheme. This month, we spotlighted:
Creative Opps Events
Looking Ahead: 2026 Industry Workshops
We’re currently reaching out to partners and practitioners to shape next year’s programme of industry workshops — expanding the range of voices, skills, and creative pathways our members can learn from.
Before we look ahead, we want to say a huge thank you to the brilliant people who contributed their time, expertise, and generosity to this year’s sessions:
Amber Weaver — Type 01
Luisa Le Voguer — Hate zine
Lily Slydel — Greenacre Films
Burphy Zumu — ClearView Research
Adeyinka Akinrinade — Stage One Producers
Each workshop offered unique insight and practical tools, helping our members grow their confidence, creativity, and understanding of the industry. We’re excited to build on this foundation as we plan for 2026.
Creative Opps Members Workshop:
Compassionate Criticism: How to Share Feedback with Care In Creative Spaces
Date: Monday 8th December 2025 | Time: 1 PM (online)
📍 Zoom | Free to attend
A workshop on how to give and receive feedback in creative spaces with care, clarity, and mutual respect, exploring critique as a tool for community-building and growth rather than competition or harm.
We also want to recognise the brilliant member-led Learning & Development workshops that took place this year. A huge thank you to:
Phoebe Yemi Ara — Getting Into Film Festivals
Kali George — How to Spark Ideas for Your Creative Writing
Christina Oyekan — How to Make Cool Stuff with No Budget
Each session was thoughtful, practical, and rooted in lived experience, offering peers valuable guidance and inspiration. We’re grateful to every member who stepped up to share their knowledge with the community.
Creative Opps x Arts Against Knives Presents
Coming February 2026
We’re excited to announce Co-Lab, our first Creative Opps event of 2026 — a day of collaboration, conversation, and creative exchange themed around inclusivity in practice.
Taking place in February, Co-Lab will bring together artists, producers, and young creatives to explore how inclusivity can shape real working environments — from accessible design and equitable partnerships to authentic representation in the arts. Expect hands-on workshops, panel discussions, and shared space for new ideas to grow.
📅 Save the date — full details and registration opening soon!
This Month’s Job Opportunities
Cracking Slate – Trainee Facilitator
Deadline: Monday 15 December 2025
East | Part-time | Contract | Under £10K (£600 total)
Cracking Slate is seeking a Luton-based emerging artist or facilitator to support The Future is Now, a creative project with Year 4–5 students exploring their community’s future through writing, music, and drama. The role includes co-designing workshops, delivering sessions in schools, and supporting a public sharing event and zine. Ideal for someone passionate about youth creativity, community arts, and developing facilitation experience.
Apply via: [email protected]
Interviews: Friday 19 December
Ort Gallery – Admin & Support
Deadline: Monday 1 December 2025
West Midlands | Part-time | Contract | £30–40K pro rata (£6,820 salaried / £6,930 freelance)
Ort Gallery is hiring an Admin & Support worker to help with organisational operations as they grow their programme. The role is designed for someone new to the arts, returning to work, or changing industries. Tasks include email management, website updates, social media support, and assisting with exhibitions and events. Full training and a supportive, inclusive environment are provided.
Beacon Films CIC – Filmmaker Traineeship
Deadline: Wednesday 14 January 2026
North East | Part-time | Contract | Under £10K (£1,000 for 40 hours)
A paid traineeship for disabled, entry-level filmmakers based in Newcastle. Participants receive 40 hours of paid filmmaking work with Great North Museum, Hancock, plus a year of business mentoring and industry guidance. Trainees will produce a 1–2 minute short film and receive support with equipment, invoicing, and access needs. Ideal for early-career filmmakers looking to develop skills and move toward self-employment.
Events & Programmes
Pick Up The Mic – Make and Be Merry Creative Event
Closing date: Wednesday 10 December 2025
Type: Event (On-site)
Pick Up The Mic invites you to close out the year with Make and Be Merry, a cosy festive gathering centred on creativity, gratitude, and community. It’s a chance to reflect on 2025, recharge, and connect with fellow creatives before the new year begins.
Expect an evening of hands-on making and mindful celebration, including:
Sip n Paint: Express yourself and create something joyful to take home
Vision Boarding: Manifest your goals for the year ahead
Clothes Mending: Add patches and festive flair to revive your wardrobe
Open to both long-time supporters and newcomers, this event is all about community, joy, and ending the year on a high.
Turf Projects – Blender Crash Course for Beginners
Date: Saturday 6 December 2025
Location: London
Type: Training
A three-hour crash course introducing the essentials of Blender, the free, open-source 3D modelling software used across animation, games, visual art, and digital design. Led by illustrator and animator Marco Riosa (Luke Halls Studio), the session covers setup, navigation, basic editing, and how to start building in 3D.
Participants will need a laptop capable of running Blender, a three-button mouse, and Blender pre-installed (version 4.5+). PDFs and printouts will be provided, with a session recording available after the workshop.
Funding Opportunities
Future Proof Development Lab – FACT Liverpool x Doc Society
Deadline: Thursday 11 December 2025, 12pm GMT
Type: Development Lab | Hybrid | Paid (£110/day + travel & accommodation)
Future Proof supports 10 emerging to mid-career UK directors and lead creatives developing innovative non-fiction or immersive projects that engage with new technologies (AI, big data, virtual/augmented environments). The programme includes residential labs in Liverpool and London, virtual sessions, and industry meetings at CPH:Forum (CPH:DOX).
Open to applicants with at least one released non-fiction or immersive work and a project in early development. Priority given to creators from underrepresented backgrounds, especially in Wales and the North West.
Alliance for Youth Organising – Funding Opportunities
Anchor Grants: Up to £85,000 over two years — deadline 26 Jan 2026
Explore Grants: £15,000 for one-off projects — deadline 16 Feb 2026
Two new funding streams supporting youth organising across the UK. Anchor Grants back long-term organisational work; Explore Grants support short projects addressing gaps in knowledge or action. Awards announced April 2026.
Thank you for reading and for being part of our Creative Opps community. Your support, energy, and generosity keep this work moving. We’re grateful for everything we’ve built together this year — and excited for what’s ahead.
-Creative Opps