A new project is giving young people in Northern Ireland the chance to shape their own creative futures. Kinship, funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, aims to equip people aged 16 to 25 with skills, experiences and relationships for the creative sector. The Nerve Centre, a creative media arts organisation, is one of eight UK sites testing the approach, working directly with young people in Derry~Londonderry and Belfast.

Rather than designing programmes based on assumptions, Kinship puts young people in charge of decision-making, idea development and activities. Over recent months, the project has built a community of young creatives and started putting their ideas into action.

A new Discord community connects participants from Nerve Centre's film, music, games and culture programmes. It offers a space to share work, discover opportunities and build relationships, along with ticket giveaways, online social activities and in-person events. Young people aged 16 to 25 already in Nerve Centre programmes will be invited to join.

At the heart of Kinship is a Core Cohort of ten young people who have previously taken part in Nerve Centre programmes. They are taking on a more active role through regular meetings and paid opportunities, gaining experience in event planning, programming and facilitation while working with staff and department heads. The goal is to support their transition from participants to creative facilitators and decision-makers.

The cohort has already met with Secretary of State Chris Bryant to discuss the project's importance. Members have also completed Climate Smart Training and received certificates recognising their continuing professional development. They are developing ideas for youth-led events, with the first activities starting in October.

Kinship is starting small, testing activities with smaller groups before exploring how successful ideas might scale into larger Nerve Centre events. Two event formats are being explored: online workshops and Taster Tuesdays. Online events are free for Discord community members and offer chances to learn new skills and connect with others.

Cohort member Eimear Doherty recently led a mini zine-making workshop via Zoom. The workshop explored the history of zines as tools for activism, self-expression and independent publishing, from the 1980s punk movement to feminist and queer publications of the 1990s. The session illustrated the project's peer-led learning approach, with young people sharing their own knowledge and creative skills.