Our Big Give Make Shift Campaign – One Year On

Thanks to your incredible generosity during last year’s Big Give campaign, you helped us raise over £14,000 to continue breaking down barriers for young creatives.

Empowering young people 

Make Shift creatives vital opportunities for young people to see that a creative career is possible – from work experience placements for school students, to monthly meet ups bringing together emerging talent, artists, and industry professionals. 

The programme is designed to particularly support young people from communities underrepresented in the creative industries, working closely with local schools and youth organisations to identify and reduce the barriers they face. 

"We need more events like this. It's fun but I am actually learning. I wish the whole school was here." - Student, Connected Futures Festival 2025 

What your support has made possible 

Over the last year, your support has made a real impact: 

• 90% of participants told us their skills and knowledge relevant to their creative career had increased.  
• 96 young creatives joined our Monthly Meet Ups and Clubs, taking part in talks and workshops on filmmaking, storytelling, placemaking, risk management and other topics.
• We welcomed 34 Year 10-13 young people onto our annual Work Experience Programme creating animatronic projects.
• 8 Bristol-based 18-30 year olds from working class backgrounds, who like making things with their hands, joined our Make Shift Summer Camp.
• We hosted family workshops and youth-led activities, including Talking Creatures (April 2025 – 40+ participants) and Shonkbots Creative Tech Workshop (February 2025, 30+ participants).
• Through a MyWorld Fellowship, Make Shift delivered skills workshops for 175 young attendees.
• 1,796 attendees to all our workshops and activities!

“It was my first experience of getting paid for creative work. Having this experience at the very start of my creative career has deeply encouraged me to fully lean into it” - Make Shift Participant

Looking ahead

We’re so proud of what your support has made possible. This December, we’ll be taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge once again – this time raising funds to support Watershed and all our creative community. Because we’re more than just a building – we’re a place where culture builds community. 

From Tue 2 – Tue 9 Dec, the first £7,500 donated via the Big Give website will be doubled. If you would like to know more about how you can get involved, get in touch with Bella Whately, Head of Development, at bella.w@watershed.co.uk 

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