Creative Youth & Community Development Program 2025

Creative Youth & Community Development Program 2025

PARITICPANTS

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PROJECT ENGAGMENT

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ARTISTS

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PURPOSE

We believe that everyone deserves the chance to reach the highest levels of opportunities and development regardless of their background.

Creating Society with Dance Program will add tremendous positive value to national development and cooperation work for the benefit of girls, boys, women, and men by strengthening community activities and providing positive resources that will have a significant impact across a range of communities which will be beneficial for the present and future. Increase choice and opportunity for young people from ethnic groups, and minority groups that are excluded from various social activities due to financial circumstances. We aim to provide mental health awareness, inclusivity, and gender equality and build social integration by breaking down stereotypical barriers and fostering the global cross-culture knowledge and understanding of young people.

MISSION

We want to help increase the likelihood of young people from different community groups both nationally and internationally to take part in the arts, irrespective of where they live or what minority group, gender, social education, or financial circumstances. In addressing these priorities we seek to increase attendance and participation by supporting the public to help shape local arts by increasing choices and opportunities for young people to experience and be inspired.

Creative Youth & Community Development Program is a unique program to empower and nurture creativity and community cohesion through cultural intervention while celebrating 5 years of Ground Zero Live Internationally recognised dance event, this initiative enhances opportunities for communities and promotes inclusivity. It enables diverse participants to engage with culture meaningful, fostering creativity, confidence and community connections while celebrating culture's transformative power.

This was made possible thanks to public funding from the National Lottery Arts Council England and OPDC.

We believe it can help improve the quality of life for individuals and their communities by using multiple creative practices such as dance theatre, event management producing and creative media as a tool to inspire, motivate and unite people while focusing on youth development, diversity, promoting physical, mental well- being and provide opportunities for them to channel their energy and creativity with a positive behaviour in safe and family environment during these difficult times. We want to Celebrate diversity and work to achieve the creative potential in all young people attending the workshops, Social gatherings, Battles, and performances by training and supporting each individual regardless of ethnicity, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion.

OUTCOME

The Creative Youth and Community development program in 2025 has been a great success, exceeding our expectations where we had the privilege of engaging over 1400+ participants and reaching a wide audience of 350,000 through our digital platforms, newsletter and social media. The program has provided a platform for youth to gain a better understanding of the importance of cultural development and how it can help shape and strengthen their lives including providing opportunities for intercultural exchanges between UK and Japan. It has also been a great way for youth to foster relationships with one another, as well as to learn new skills that can be applied to their future endeavuors. Through the program, all participants aged between 5-29 years old have had access to a variety of resources and activities that have helped them to grow and develop in their own unique ways. As a result, the program has been an invaluable asset to the youth and has helped to ensure their success in the future.

We have accomplished our 5th development program, providing an inspirational and interactive experience for all taking part and creating a place of belonging for many unrepresented communities and young people both in the England and now expanding to Japan. With the support and help of the National Lottery funding by Arts Council England, Ealing Council, and OPDC, Igym, and local organisations we were able to engage over 1400+ young people from March - October 2025 and put on once again a unique project which we aim to continue and grow further and enable more young people and emerging artists to take part in arts irrespective of where they live or what race, gender, social education or financial circumstances while bringing a wealth of opportunities for the wider communities to engage in and experience art.

GROUND ZERO LIVE 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

FROM THE VIRTUAL WORLD TO THE REAL WORLD

After delivering successful online events in 2020 and in-person editions in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, we celebrated the 5-year anniversary of our

international Hip Hop dance battle in 2025. This milestone event welcomed dancers and emerging artists aged 6–30 from across the UK and around the world, with participants travelling from countries including Italy, Singapore, Belgium, Germany, France, Ireland, Japan, Romania, Holland, Morocco, Denmark, and the USA.

We proudly hosted over 950+ dancers and spectators, creating an energetic and diverse atmosphere that represented global Hip Hop culture. The

event was supported by 12 dedicated volunteers and a media team of 7, who helped capture, organise, and elevate the overall experience.

Despite facing challenges related to the event date and travel disruptions, the anniversary edition was a resounding success and exceeded our

expectations. The turnout, talent level, and community spirit demonstrated the strong international reach and growing impact of our platform.

EMERGING ARTISTS

The Creative Development Program for Emerging Artists successfully cultivated a nurturing and innovative environment where both dance and media practitioners could evolve artistically and professionally. By intertwining the virtual and the physical, the project not only showcased the participants’ creativity but also embodied the spirit of Ground Zero Live — celebrating the diversity, resilience, and imagination of emerging artists as they bring new worlds to life. Our mission was to provide a safe and intimate space for artists to express their creativity and explore new opportunities for growth. We strive to create an environment where Artists from all walks of life regardless their ability can collaborate, challenge each other, be inspired by each other’s work and grow together. As we continue to grow we are committed to providing a great experience for all.

Overview

The Creative Development Program for Emerging Artists brought together five talented artists from diverse ages, genders, and backgrounds to

explore the intersection of dance, media, and virtual creativity. This initiative provided a unique platform for collaboration between dance artists and visual creators, enabling them to expand their creative practices through a shared process of storytelling and digital exploration.

Concept and Theme

The project’s central theme — “From the Virtual World to the World: A Journey of Positive Impact” — drew inspiration from the five-year evolution

of Ground Zero Live. Over this time, five distinct characters were developed, each symbolising an artist’s unique creative identity and personal

journey.

These characters were brought to life through movement, performance, and visual media, with five dancers embodying and interpreting them

through physical expression. The challenge for each dancer was to translate these virtual characters into tangible, emotionally resonant

performances, bridging the gap between digital imagination and lived human experience.

GROUND ZERO LIVE 2025 YOUTH QUALIFIER

The Ground Zero Live: Youth Qualifier took place at Ealing Project, a vibrant community venue that also features a cinema space. Marking five years since

the inception of Ground Zero Live — an initiative originally born during the COVID-19 lockdown to provide young people with purpose, positivity, and creative engagement — this milestone event celebrated the growth of the project and its continuing impact on youth wellbeing and creativity. The event served as the first official Youth Qualifier, offering a platform for young dancers aged 4 to 17 to showcase their talents, connect with peers, and express themselves through

movement. Spectators ranged in age from 1 to 75, creating a truly family- friendly and intergenerational atmosphere.

To ensure inclusivity and accessibility, the event adopted a “pay-what-you-can” approach, enabling families from all backgrounds to attend and participate

regardless of financial circumstances. Purpose and Legacy Ground Zero Live was founded during the lockdown period as a positive response to the challenges faced by young people — particularly around mental health, isolation, and lack of creative outlets. Over five years, the platform has evolved into a community

cornerstone, providing safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for youth expression through dance and creativity.

The Youth Qualifier represented the next step in this journey — giving young people recognition, purpose, and the opportunity to grow both artistically and

personally.

GROUND ZERO LIVE 2025 MAIN EVENT

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Established in 2020 with the aim to connect young people and communities during the global pandemic Ground Zero Live became a lifeline for many young people across the world by giving them a purpose to stay connected and maintain their mental health. In April 2025 Ground Zero Live celebrated its five year anniversary bringing all elements of Hip Hop into a weekend packed full of fun, from junior dance battles, workshops, parties, panel discussions showcases and of course the high energy international battle event with amazing line of some of the best DJ’s in the world and a panel of international judges with attendance from dancers across the uk and the world held at Greenford hall in west London.

CONNECTING THE WORLD THROUGH DANCE

CREATIVE MEDIA PROGRAM

YOUTH FILMING & DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM

The Youth Filming and Documentary Program provided a unique and transformative opportunity for young people to gain professional training and real-world experience in directing, journalism, videography, and editing. Participants worked hands-on with professional-grade equipment under the guidance of experienced industry mentors and young creative leaders, bridging the gap between learning and professional practice.

Empowerment Through Creative Practice

The program was carefully designed to nurture creative development and personal growth among young people aged 16–25, particularly those from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds. It aimed to equip participants with both technical and artistic skills in digital filmmaking and media production, empowering them to explore their creative visions while gaining confidence and a sense of ownership over their work.

Our mission has been to engage diverse groups of young people from historically under-served communities, creating pathways into the creative industries by providing meaningful experiences in emerging media technologies. Through this, participants not only learned valuable technical skills but also developed essential life and career attributes such as leadership, collaboration, adaptability, and critical thinking.

Growth Through Real-Time Creative Experiences

To ensure the experience was grounded in real-world application, the program was built around live project opportunities that gave participants a genuine insight into the professional media environment.

We collaborated with ARTification on their Y-OUR STORY Project based on the Friary Park Estate, an area undergoing regeneration and community development. The young film team conducted interviews with local residents, capturing their personal experiences and reflections on how the transformation was shaping their lives. The result was a 30-minute documentary that was later screened publicly — giving participants the rewarding experience of seeing their work presented to an audience and receiving direct feedback from the community they represented.

We also partnered with Mencap to create a short documentary highlighting the work of Ibraheem Malik, a young man with disabilities who serves as a Community Connector and advocate for individuals with learning disabilities. Our participants followed Ibraheem throughout his daily commute and workday, documenting his interactions, challenges, and impact. This project not only developed the team’s filming and storytelling abilities but also deepened their empathy, understanding, and appreciation of representation in media.

YOUTH PODCAST PILOT

As part of our commitment to empowering young people through creative development, we launched a Youth Podcast Pilot designed to give participants hands-on experience in running, preparing, and hosting a podcast. The aim of this pilot was to place young people in the driver’s seat—allowing them to lead the process, develop new skills, and explore the full scope of podcast production in a supportive environment.

During the pilot, participants were introduced to the fundamentals of podcast creation, including content planning, research, script development, on-mic hosting, interviewing techniques, technical setup, and basic media skills. They also gained insight into the workflow behind the scenes, such as coordinating episodes, managing time, and working collaboratively as a production team.

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS

COMMUNITY YOUTH EVENT

As part of our project, we collaborated Grounded UK and New Gen Festival, an outdoor youth event held in Walpole Park in Ealing Broadway and organised by Ealing Council arts & culture team supported by OPDC and Ealing Council.

The festival traditionally focuses on music, spoken word, and youth creativity, making it an ideal space to further include and celebrate younger participants. Recognising that opportunities for primary-aged children to express themselves publicly are often limited, we aimed to create a dedicated platform for them within the wider festival environment.

Importance of Engaging the Younger Generation
We found it crucial to work with young people, especially those in the primary school age group, as this stage is a key period for building confidence, self-esteem, and social skills. Providing children with opportunities to be creatively involved supports their emotional development and strengthens their sense of identity. Being given a platform to perform and interact in a positive, community-focused environment helps them feel valued, capable, and recognised. It also encourages early engagement in the arts and physical activities, which can have long-term developmental benefits.

Creating a Platform: Battle of the Boroughs
A collaborative approach to ensure younger children were not overlooked within the festival, and together with Grounded UK Battle of the Boroughs, a kids’ breaking dance battle for ages 5–12. This initiative gave children a visible and celebrated place within the event, allowing them to showcase their skills while receiving support from family, peers, and the wider community.

The competition culminated in the finalists performing live on the Main Stage.