Youth venue celebrates back-to-back evenings of achievement
Culture Vulture reporter Anders Anglesey joined First Floor for their fifth anniversary birthday bash last night, building on Thursday’s success at being awarded with the Best Place for Children and Young People award at the first ever Child Friendly Leeds Award …
Five years ago yesterday First Floor, on St Peter’s St, Leeds, opened its doors for the first time to young adults from all around West Yorkshire. During this early period, First Floor was open for a few days a week and resembled little more than a shell when compared to the form it takes today.
Now open six days and three nights a week. First Floor is able to give young adults and people with learning disabilities, aged between 11-19 and 14-25 respectively, the opportunity to experience the arts through a number of inclusive and engaging workshops.
Among these said workshops and projects on offer is the Buzz social club, which is specifically geared towards young adults with learning disabilities and provides a space where they can experience the creative arts in a welcoming and friendly environment.
To see the impact First Floor has had, you only need ask one of its many members who are proud not only about what they have achieved as individuals, but also what the organisation has achieved as a whole since they opened their doors five years ago.
Nathan Guthrie, 18, who is in his final year with the organisation, credits First Floor with helping him turn his life around and introducing him to new interests such as acting, which he would like to pursue further and said: “It (First Floor) has given me the extra energy to get to the next level. To anyone thinking about joining, go for it.”
After speaking with a number of young adults, such as Nathan, and staff at First Floor it is easy to understand how it won its award on Thursday night, as awards are given based on the number of votes cast by young people for a particular organisation or person.
Hilary Benn, MP, who spoke alongside other patrons and young members last night, praised the achievements First Floor have made in its first five years and called it a place that could bring out the talent that is in every child.
Looking forward to the year ahead First Floor Co-ordinator, Gaby Paradis, is keen to develop more outreach projects throughout the city with the assistance of partners the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Leeds College of Music. And hopes to give more opportunities to young adults who may be struggling to find their inner voice and talents.
For more information about what First Floor has to offer young people check here www.wyp.org.uk/join-in/