Our Stories

We caught up with mentee Steph and their mentor Claire, both based in Merseyside, about the mentoring journey so far, what they’re getting from the experience and how the programme is helping plan for the future.

Louis, 22, from Manchester, first joined Arts Emergency as a mentee in 2020. Four years later, he's now a member of the Youth Collective and is well on his way to becoming an architect.

Ruben, aged 18, is an aspiring filmmaker based in Merseyside. He was looking for a mentor who could help him understand routes into the film industry and expand his professional network.

Laaibah, aged 18 from Manchester, was looking for a mentor who could share insights about creative writing and script writing.

Davonte, aged 19 from London, was looking for a mentor who could help prepare him for studying game design at university.

Freda, aged 21, from London, joined the Arts Emergency Youth Collective in 2022. As part of the Collective, Freda has been instrumental in formulating their manifesto, created graphics for the cohort and helped organise the Art World Is Our World festival.

Talitha, now aged 19, from Manchester, was looking for a mentor who could offer insights into working in the theatre industry.

George, aged 17, from Liverpool, was at school studying for his A-levels when he applied for an Arts Emergency mentor to get advice on whether he should pursue his passion for music at university.

Jess was interested in media or arts production, but wasn't keen on university, so she and her mentor worked to find the best next steps for her.