A two-year project focused on helping unemployed young people in Lewisham find work in the creative industries has been awarded £500,000.

Inspire Lewisham, running from now until 2023, is a partnership between Goldsmiths, University of London, Lewisham College, The Albany and Do it Now.

The organisations will help at least 125 over 16s “level up” their skills, regardless of their previous educational attainment, offering training in employability, creative and digital skills, and a creative mentoring programme.

Sixty per cent of participants will be from ethnic minority backgrounds, 50 per cent female, and 22 per cent with a disability or health condition.

Professor Frances Corner, Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London said: “In the rush to ‘level up’ Britain it is vital that young Londoners are not left behind.

“With one in five young people in Lewisham not in employment, education or training we have to do more to help them overcome the barriers to getting a good education and a good job.

“By joining together with our Lewisham partners this initiative can give young people the skills and support they need to develop their talents and carve out a career in the creative industries.”

The project is receiving up to £500,000 of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England.

Creative industries firms in Lewisham will also be offered support to help build their understanding and capacity in diversifying their workforces and offering opportunities to young people.

To qualify both participants and businesses must be resident in Lewisham.

It is estimated that currently 20 per cent of young people in Lewisham are not in employment, education or training.

Forty-seven per cent of the population are from black or ethnic minority backgrounds, a group currently underrepresented in the creative industries.

Inspire Lewisham aims to provide unemployed Lewisham residents with qualifications, training and paid work experience through creative industry firms which are based in the borough.

Gavin Barlow, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Albany said: “Getting more young people from a range of backgrounds into creative careers is essential not just for the arts, but for society as a whole.

"This investment, combined with the knowledge and experience of deeply embedded local organisations will really help young people to realise their ambitions and talent, regardless of background.

“As a venue that has always been committed to supporting routes into and through the creative industries, we’re pleased to be working in partnership across Lewisham on a project of this scale.”

More information can be found here