Hear from two of our dedicated and enthusiastic ambassadors about their experience of volunteering with Making the Future.
Felicity Bristow
Why did you get involved?
I decided to volunteer with Inspiring the Future through QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) who shared they were supporting a campaign called ‘Making the Future.’ I was inspired to share the pathway into my creative profession as I really enjoy what I do but also understand, having children myself, that the routes into creative careers like Bookbinding and other crafts are not really talked about in schools as options for young people to go into – so I hoped that in attending sessions as a volunteer online and in-person it would be a great opportunity to share my journey from working as an Architect to a Artist/Designer and Bookbinder. I hoped it would be interesting and demonstrate that there are other ways of working and options for career choices to be made.
Tell us about a recent activity you took part in.
The last activity I took part in was in March 2024 on a panel of three creatives at an event – Primary Futures Virtual Event: Inspiring Creative Careers (NE), this was a multi-school virtual event. I presented slides showing my workspace, the kind of work I did as an Architect and what I made as a Bookbinder. This was alongside presentations by an illustrator and a children’s author. After we all presented we had the most brilliant Q&A session with the kids and were delighted with questions about every aspect of our jobs from the tools we used to what we enjoyed most about out jobs – even a question about what a ‘freelance job’ is which was great to discuss. The kids were all really engaged and participated brilliantly – we ran over time as there were so many questions!
How did you prepare for the activity?
I made up a simple but very visual powerpoint slide presentation including images from my work in Architecture, Design, as an installation artist and a bookbinder. I prepared notes about what to cover about where I trained, what qualifications I had and also about other ways to train including as an apprentice. I showed some of my tools during the presentation and the kids guessed what I used them for, I also showed examples of books I make.
What was the best part about the activity?
The best part of all the activities I have taken part in has been the really positive response from the young people and teachers, with great questions and an engaged approach. One really positive response was at the end of a session with a Primary school in Galashiels, a teacher came up with a young p7 girl to say thank you especially as the student was very artistic and wanted to work with her art in the future and now felt it was a possibility for her, with lots of options – it is very rewarding to hear you have helped a young person, full of potential, in a small way.
What have you gained from volunteering?
I have enjoyed reflecting on my own pathway into the work I do now and that the route to and through a career can evolve and I can be a good example of that! A creative career can be shaped in a creative way as the individual learns and develops skills which can cross over between disciplines and in jobs or commissions. The engagement with all the young people was brilliant, they all showed interest and I hope learnt about other opportunities for them as a career. I was proud I could share with then my experience of several ‘creative’ jobs as options for what they may do in the future.
Why would you encourage other crafters and makers to volunteer?
Traditionally in schools many crafts still aren’t presented to young people as viable and potential careers, this needs to change and things like the QEST Making the Future campaigns is a brilliant way to try to influence direct change. I would encourage other crafters and makers to get involved as volunteers to spread the word about the potential of their own wonderful practices, traditions and ways of training as these skills are often declining in numbers and we need them to continue to be valued and shared as jobs to love and be successful at.
Wayne Hart
Why did you get involved?
I signed up to volunteer for Making the Future to inspire a younger generation into the arts and crafts. This includes introducing them not only to my specific crafts, but touching on the multitude of career options out there, the variety of arts and crafts available, and all aspects of running a craft business from making to business and entrepreneurship. Sadly, the arts have been decimated in the education system as they just aren’t valued as highly as other subjects, but the creative industries are estimated to bring in £126bn in gross value as well as having positive influences on mental health and well-being. I wish to make younger generations aware that careers in the arts & crafts are viable career choices, something that is important to promote if the sector and all the skills associated within it are to survive.
Tell us about a recent activity you took part in.
I have done a number of activities, both in-person and virtually for schools all over the country. The most recent of these activities was an in-person careers talk during an assembly for Fawbert & Barnard Infants School, Sawbridgeworth. The talk, which was recorded, covered topics including my job type, day-to-day tasks, training routes, benefits of the job and Q&As. The talk was accompanied with drawings, tools and carved work as I find it is more interesting for children (and adults) to see physical objects.
How did you prepare for the activity?
I maintained good communication with the school throughout, mostly through the messaging system supplied through Education & Employers. My schedule meant that I couldn’t do the original suggested dates and times, but we were able to arrange an alternative date. We have monthly tours at the studio and I give regular lectures, so I’m already aware of the content required for a talk such as this. However, I did ask the school what they would like covered and made adjustments for a younger audience. I made notes of what I’d like to say and prepared physical work examples, drawings, tools and photographs to complement the talk. I try to see things from a younger person’s perspective and tailor each talk to be interesting to them.
What was the best part about the activity? The best part of the talk was seeing genuine interest from the children. They were particularly impressed when they saw the tools and items made by hand. There were also many questions at the end of the assembly and a few of the pupils put their hands up when asked if they would like to do my job for a living. It was a great opportunity to introduce the children to a craft none of them will have heard of and to show that it is a valid career option.
What have you gained from volunteering?
Volunteering through Making the Future has given me the opportunity to showcase my work to a younger audience. It is the responsibility of every craftsperson to pass on our skills and knowledge, just as we were given those opportunities, so that crafts continue to thrive and live on. Making the Future is a good way to raise awareness of the sector and to inspire the next generation of craftspeople, especially at a time where there is a lack of focus on creative subjects in schools.
Why would you encourage other craftspeople and makers to volunteer?
If crafts are to survive, it’s imperative that children and young adults know about the sector as a potential career choice. There is a lack of focus in the arts in schools and many of our job titles are obscure, meaning most people won’t know they exist, let alone see them as a way to earn a living. Making the Future is a great way to introduce your work, the routes of study and opportunities to younger audiences, many of whom will be choosing which subjects to study at GCSE. Not every pupil will want to pursue a career in craft, but it’s important to equip them with knowledge and to hopefully inspire those with a genuine interest to pursue their passion and, in doing so, secure the future of craft.
Share your volunteering journey
Share your experience using one of our social media graphics, made specially for everyone volunteering with our Making the Future campaign in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust.
