“I would encourage you all to run a session or online event and share the passion that first brought you into this sector. The students will be so interested to hear all about it."
Maple Medical PRU in Doncaster and H&ME Creations, a mother and daughter creative craft company, created an inspiring event for Discover! Creative Careers Week 2024 for pupils with a range of needs from mental health challenges to physical impairments and neurodiversity.
Overview
Maple Medical PRU’s pupils all have some form of medical need for them to attend the school. These needs vary from mental health challenges, to physical impairments and neurodiversity.
Having never taken part in Discover! Creative Careers week, H&ME Creations were excited to be matched with Maple Medical PRU. The encounter provided tutored sessions which demonstrated the uses and techniques of epoxy and UV resin, and enabled the students to have an interactive learning experience.
Pupils were involved in producing a small craft item, from a range of different items. These items varied from a Christmas bauble, keyring, ear rings, bookmark, to name but a few of the available items. Sarah’s experience within the craft industry, meant she was able to share her experience of working within this sector and help the pupils understand pathways to work within the creative industry. Through the encounter, pupils gained skill development and a better appreciation as to what is required, to be a success working in the creative industry. All pupils were able to access the event, raising awareness of the different types of craft products that can be created and the job opportunities that may be available in this area.
Sarah commented “The pupils were incredibly polite, and an absolute pleasure to teach, and to see them get hands-on with creating their very own bespoke piece of resin jewellery, keyring or Christmas bauble was absolutely amazing. “
The children used employability skills; listening to the instructions, safe practices of work, including the use of PPE, supporting each other through teamwork and communicating their ideas for their creation,
Number of young people reached:
34
Advice for similar companies/organisations:
“I would encourage you all to run a session or online event and share the passion that first brought you into this sector. The students will be so interested to hear all about it!” Sarah
Can you tell us why you believe it’s important for industry to get directly involved in inspiring and informing young people about careers in the creative industries through projects like Discover?
Sarah at H&ME Creations said “We would highly recommend taking part in Discover! Creative Careers flagship event and have already signed up for 2025. The encounter gave us the chance to get out into the community, and to provide students with an opportunity to see first-hand how the creative industries sector functions, and hopefully they felt inspired to try something new, and possibly to consider a creative career route. I didn’t follow a traditional career route into the creative industries sector myself, instead working in the NHS as a senior manager for over 15 years, until I became very poorly and disabled. I was unable to work until last year, and it gave me so much joy to be matched with a medical school and show them that a traditional work route does not always have to be the way. Indeed, what started as a hobby when I was bought a resin set for Mother’s Day, has now become a new career in a sector I have always loved!”
Mark Powell, the School Development Lead at Maple Medical PRU said “Each year we work to bring employers into our school to meet the pupils that both are within an industry that they have an interest and/or who can widen the pupils understanding of the world of work…. the pupils were pleased with their product and it gave them more confidence to try other activities in the future. The event also proved to the pupils that they could produce items of a good standard , irrespective of their academic ability, or physical conditions, which could lead to a more diverse workforce in this industry. Discussing the event afterwards, a few pupils could see how this kind of work may be practical to fit around their health needs or other commitments and that they could even start as a micro business through a site such as eBay.”
