What is LeedsCEP?
Leeds Cultural Education Partnerships (LeedsCEP) is here to promote the work of our members and what they do for children and young people in the city.
- We are here to forge partnerships and networks so members can be more joined-up and work in a more informed and collaborative way.
- We want to be a collective voice, which can shout louder about the value of creative and cultural learning to those who can listen and affect change.
- We’re here to celebrate all the amazing stuff that goes off in our organisations, schools and neighbourhoods.
- We’re also here to develop that work, share best practice and forge ahead stronger.
LeedsCEP was established in September 2017 in response to Arts Council England’s Cultural Education Challenge.
Local Cultural Education Partnerships (LCEPs) are a partnership of arts and cultural organisations, educational institutions, local authorities and other stakeholders committed to developing cultural learning opportunities for children and young people in their local area. They exist across the country in different local authorities and respond to local need and context.
LeedsCEP works strategically to drive a joined-up cultural offer locally, to share resources and bring about a more coherent, visible cultural education offer for children and young people in the city. We have a wide and growing membership of organisations from the cultural, education and community sectors which cover all geographical areas of Leeds.
Our Vision
Leeds will be a city that grows the aspirations and talents of children and young people through access to high quality arts and cultural opportunities.
Our Mission
LeedsCEP provides a collective voice within the city, and through co-creation of practices and policy, will address inequality in Leeds by ensuring all children and young people have access to a high quality arts and cultural education offer that responds to their needs.
Our Strategic Priorities
LeedsCEP members are working in partnership to explore four key agendas which respond to areas of identified need within Leeds.
Advocacy and Access: we are creating an evidence-based case for cultural education, and will use this to advocate to decision-makers and stakeholders in Leeds. We’re also raising awareness and removing barriers to Leeds’ cultural education offer, by developing targeted work where engagement is low, and providing targeted information for schools and young people on the cultural offer in the city.
Children and Young People’s Voice and Engagement: we will ensure young people’s voice is a key part of decision making in the development of creative education opportunities. We will shape effective policy planning by raising the profile of young people’s perspectives and creative education needs.
Progression and skills: We will support programmes that identify, nurture and retain young people’s creative talent in the city and address current barriers to cultural education progression from early years through to higher education. We will work together to develop best practice in creative and cultural learning in schools and support progression and talent development for young people into creative careers.
Health and wellbeing: we will support cross-sector information exchange, networking, professional development and other initiatives which support health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people through engagement with arts and culture.
Get Involved
LeedsCEP is a membership organisation, managed by one paid part-time manager. Anyone can become a member of LeedsCEP by registering on our Mailing List.
There are different ways you can get involved in the work of LeedsCEP, depending on your area of interest or expertise and how much time you can commit. We hope participation in LeedsCEP will benefit you individually as well as your organisation. LeedsCEP is its members and we believe, by coming together, we can work more effectively for the benefit of children and young people in Leeds.
What do I get as a member?
By signing up the mailing list, you will receive regular emails and half-termly newsletters updating you on cultural and creative work in the city for children and young people. We share information on interesting projects and initiatives, members’ news, policy and lobbying information, CPD opportunities as well as opportunities for funding, jobs and partnership working. Members are also be invited to networking events.
Members can become more actively involved in our ‘Priority Pods’ and specific ‘task & finish’ groups that emerge from the work of the Pods. These drive forward our action plan and are an opportunity to work on specific projects that are of interest and benefit to members.
Who is involved in LeedsCEP?
We have a small Executive Group who oversee the LeedsCEP Manager role, as this is a funded role. We also have an Independent Chair, Dr Briony Thomas, who is part of the Executive Group and chairs our Steering Group. This is a voluntary role. Briony is also Associate Professor of Design Science at the University of Leeds.
Our Steering Group
The Steering Group is responsible for driving forward the LeedsCEP Action Plan and informing and influencing joint strategic cultural education programmes and policies within the city. It provides our vision and steer, reviewing progress and delivery of the action plan as well as championing and advocating for the value of cultural education amongst funders and stakeholders.
Comprising approximately 12-15 members, the Steering Group draws on expertise from the cultural sector, education sector, community, local authority and creative industries. We try and ensure there is diverse representation to reflect the communities of Leeds and that specialist knowledge and experience across the sectors is brought into our work.
We are currently developing ways in which young people can be part of, or be represented in, the Steering Group. Our Steering Group meets every 8-12 weeks.
If you are interested in becoming part of our Steering Group, contact: LeedsCEP@leeds2023.co.uk,
More information here: Steering Group Role
Priority Pods
Priority Pods lead on driving forward actions relating to the four Priority Areas in our Action Plan.
- Advocacy & Access
- Youth Voice
- Progression & Skills
- Health & Well-being
Priority Pods are a coming together of individuals with an interest or experience in that priority area. Pods are an opportunity to share best practice, develop CPD or peer learning opportunities, develop partnership projects and identify funding to support activity. Smaller ‘task & finish’ groups may emerge from the Pods to focus on specific pieces of work.
LeedsCEP members can choose to join any of the Priority Pods relevant to their work or area of expertise. Information about the work of the Pods and meeting dates will be shared with the wider membership on email and through the newsletters. A Pod Leader drives forward the activity of the Pod and reports back to the Steering Group. This role can be shared and is supported by the LeedsCEP Manager who coordinates Pod activity. Priority Pods meet every 8 – 12 weeks, as determined by the group.
More information here on the Pod Leader Role
If you would like to join any of the Priority Pod sessions, contact LeedsCEP@leeds2023.co.uk.
A list of current members who have been involved in shaping the partnership and contributing to working groups can be found here: LeedsCEP Network and working group membership.
Can I just be kept informed?
Absolutely! We have a membership of approximately 120 partners, some of whom just receive our emails, newsletters and invites to events. Members can be as active as they wish in terms of getting involved in our Pod activity, shared projects and attending events.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR MAILING LIST FOR NEWSLETTERS, EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
Look at our LeedsCEP Terms of Reference and LeedsCEP Action Plan for more information on how we work and what we are working towards.
Questions? Ideas? and anything LeedsCEP related – just contact LeedsCEP@leeds2023.co.uk
Leeds Cultural Education Partnership Planning and Management
Please see the following documents to find out more about the Leeds Cultural Education Partnership:
LeedsCEP Terms of Reference LeedsCEP Apr22 (BGT)
Role description LeedsCEP Steering Group & Pod Leaders
Research and Policy Documents
Life Lessons Research from the Sutton Trust
Durham Commission on Creativity and Education
An Unequal Playing Field – Social Mobility Commission
Arts-Rich Schools Case Studies from the RSA
Cultural Learning Evidence Champion’s Handbook
Cultural Learning Alliance’s Response to Let’s Create
Research into Local Cultural Education Partnerships
My Health My School Survey Key Findings 2018-19
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR MAILING LIST FOR NEWSLETTERS, EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
