Indeed, FYT-PUSH has worked with the most vulnerable children, families and young people; it has offered accredited learning opportunities through the Arts Award; it has impacted on levels of educational attainment and motivation and facilitated children and young people to influence, shape and lead their own personal development.
There is also early evidence of the impact of the programme on reducing levels of youth offending and in raising levels of motivation. The Preventing Youth Offending Team in Portsmouth stated that levels of antisocial behaviour reduced as a result of the FYT programme. The Dance United Project with the Wessex Youth Offending Team has resulted in young people progressing on to peer mentoring, further education or employment. The FYT programme has also resulted in young people developing strong cultural leadership skills, such as the 16 young people now filling a regular weekly FYT programme slot on Express FM local radio. This peer leadership is resulting in increased numbers of young people achieving or working towards Arts Award, including 10 who are working at Gold level.
