Inspire Lewisham
Inspire Lewisham was a collaborative initiative launched in 2021 led by Goldsmiths, University of London, in partnership with Lewisham College, the Albany, and Do It Now Now. Funded by the GLA and Lewisham Council, we worked with unemployed Lewisham residents and creative businesses to provide employment and employability support through paid placements, mentoring and a range of training.
The project received positive feedback from across the Borough, resonating with businesses, residents, and stakeholders. The provision of paid work experience within the creative sector was cited as a key benefit of the scheme by both unemployed participants and businesses who worked with them. Over 200 residents were engaged and supported, with 125 businesses receiving training on inclusive recruitment, employment support and placement management. We were able to fund 90 placements providing participants with valuable experience that both directly and indirectly led to creative sector employment and self-employment. The SME engagement and training are poised to generate enduring positive impacts on the local creative economy and employment, leaving a lasting legacy.