Roundhouse youth programmes help 10,000 young people a year

The Chalk Farm venue marked the milestone on Tuesday with performances of poetry and song - and unveiling banners detailing the names of every participant.

While the main venue hosts major music gigs and performances, the Roundhouse Studios and workspace Roundhouse Works offer low cost courses, and access to top class facilities for young people aged 11-30.

Performances to mark the 10,000 milestone included singer Tendertwin (Image: John Williams)

"Working with 10226 people in just one year is a big leap forward," said CEO and artistic director Marcus Davey.

"It shows there is not only a need, but that the Roundhouse has built its capacity with the new building that opened a year ago, and with the range of projects that we are offering to the local community and across London.

"It's just a great feeling to know that 10,000 young people are learning skills, gaining experience and moving forward in a positive way in their lives. Many have written messages saying how much it means to them."

Participation ranges from joining as members, to using the studios to rehearse with a band or make a podcast, to taking one of the affordable courses or workshops in film, spoken word, music production, or song writing.

The Roundhouse also runs an "intense" six week course for young people Not In Education, Employment or Training, and the new workspace, opened by local MP Sir Keir Starmer last year, is an "accelerator and incubator" for higher level artists developing skills to make a career in the creative industries.

The newest project is an exciting collaboration with Camden-raised film star Daniel Kaluuya, who took acting classes at the Roundhouse as a youngster.

Centre 59 is particularly focused on young people aged 18-25 who haven't completed higher education.

"When we asked Daniel to become Associate Artistic director,  our first conversation was about setting up a youth theatre company and we are working together to fulfil that and make this opportunity for young people," said Davey.

"We are about to start the next phase, we've been working in local schools in Camden last term and over the summer for three weeks working with young, middle, and older age groups of 60 young people a week.

"Daniel has come down so much to meet the young people, and given talks and feedback. We are now auditioning for the company which will perform a show next year."

Davey says participation in creative projects also imparts general life skills like "time keeping, learning confidence, communicating and presenting ideas, responsibility, team work, and networking."

He adds: "Of course it's not just about the numbers but the quality of engagement and the Roundhouse is really fantastic at that."