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Case Study

SMART (Schools multi-agency resource team) fashion show

An innovative holiday scheme run by the SMART project in Cornwall resulted in 60 children and young people being involved in every aspect of the planning, design and execution of a major fashion show.

School/organisation: 
Camborne, Pool, Redruth Success Zone
Description of activities: 
This year SMART has chosen the fashion show as a way of staying in contact with some 60 children and young people in the Camborne, Pool and Redruth areas who it is already working with or who have been identified by schools as being likely to benefit. Working in line with the government’s Every Child Matters agenda, this project is not just about having children involved in a final event, but about involving them in every aspect of the planning, design and organisation.
 
Consequently, over the first four weeks of the summer holidays, there were workshops on at least three days a week run by SMART and colleagues from other agencies (statutory, voluntary and commercial) covering all aspects of the preparation for the show. These included design, hospitality, stage lighting, digital music and sound, dance moves for the catwalk, health, and make-up. 
 
The children and young people were able to take part in as many or as few of these as they wished but they all had the opportunity to contribute to the final event in whatever way suited them best. Healthy living was a crucial part of the project and some of the young people were involved in the preparation of healthy lunches on every day of the workshops as well as running the catering and hospitality for the final event. 
 
The overall theme was one of recycling and caring for the environment. Consequently, the clothes were donated largely by local charity shops and the sets and accessories were produced by the young people from recycled articles. 
 
The final event was held on the evening of 24 August at Pool School and exceeded all the expectations of the children and young people, their parents and carers and the SMART staff.
Key challenges and how these were overcome: 
The daily workshops and the final event all happened on the premises of Pool Business and Enterprise College, which is the most centrally located of the three secondary schools in the area. Because of the semi-rural nature of the area, transport had to be provided and some 30 children were transported to and from the school every day (mini buses were borrowed from local schools). The Pool College provided use of its professionally equipped hall, a food tech room, an art room, a music room and a further classroom. In addition, valuable support was provided by the two caretakers.
 
In keeping with the overall theme, this project was run on a near zero budget and was reliant on the goodwill and support of more than 30 local individuals and organisations for donations of time and materials. It had the services of a local sculptor, a professional lighting specialist, a music teacher, a learning mentor and two sixth formers, who choreographed the show as well as helping with design and costume-making.
Benefits of activities: 
Although the final event exceeded all expectations, the real benefit to the children and young people came from attending the various workshops over the five-week period of the project.
 
These allowed them to make new friends (peers and adults) and learn new skills and apply them practically. It also provided some structure in their lives, which is often what these young people lack. It also allowed them to continue to have positive experiences on school premises.
 
Most importantly, it became evident that, for many children, the experience generated a huge improvement in self-image.
Key partner involvement: 
  • Local environmental organisation, Surfers Against Sewage ran a workshop on caring for the environment on Porthtowan beach.
  • Scallywags Café in Camborne and the Penventon Hotel, Redruth ran workshops on different aspects of catering and hospitality
  • The head of Hair and Beauty courses at Penwith College also ran workshops as did staff and students from Cornwall College. 
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