This policy outlines the process for free workshop places and external agencies—to refer excluded, at-risk, or vulnerable children and young people to our craft workshops. Artcycle's goal is to provide a supportive, creative environment that fosters personal growth, confidence, and community belonging.
Who Can Refer
We accept referrals from:
Personal referral
Local authority children’s services
Youth offending teams
Alternative provision or PRU coordinators
Family support workers
Community outreach programmes
Approved charities working with vulnerable youth
Eligibility Criteria
Referred participants should:
Be aged between [e.g. 7–16 years]
Be currently excluded, at risk of exclusion, or not in mainstream education
Benefit from creative, therapeutic engagement in a structured, inclusive setting
Have parental or guardian consent, form found here
Allocation of Free Places
A minimum of 25% of workshop spaces will be reserved as free places. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to those most in need. If demand exceeds capacity, we will operate a waiting list and offer alternative dates where possible.
Who Can Apply for a Free Place?
Free places are available to children and teens (ages 7–18) who meet any of the following:
Financial hardship
Being in care or part of a support programme
Living in temporary accommodation or a difficult home situation
Being a young carer
Struggling with school, bullying, or feeling left out
Having additional needs or spiritual, emotional or physical health challenges
Not having many chances to take part in creative or social activities
If you think your child would benefit—we want to hear from you.
Commitment and Attendance
Free place participants are expected to attend as confirmed, so that resources are used effectively.
If unable to attend, parents/carers should notify us as soon as possible so the place can be reallocated.
Repeated no-shows without notice may affect future bookings.
Referral Process
Agencies should email claire@artcyclecic.co.uk or enquire by phone 07788577468 with details about:
Basic details of the child
Risk factors, support needs, and relevant history
Emergency contact information
Consent confirmation
Or, you can ask your child’s teacher, youth worker, or support worker to refer them to us. All requests will be treated with respect and confidentiality.
Assessment & Placement:
Upon receiving a referral, our safeguarding officer (Sophia Harding) will:
Review the child’s needs
Confirm appropriate placement in a suitable workshop session
Offer a pre-workshop meeting if needed to build trust.
Confirmation:
Agencies and families will be contacted with session details, and any required preparation.
Support Provided
Low adult-to-child ratios
Facilitators with experience in ADHD and trauma-informed practice
Free materials
Safeguarding and Data
All referrals are treated confidentially. Our team is DBS-checked and competent in child protection. Data is stored securely in line with GDPR and shared only with consent for safeguarding purposes.
Help and Feedback
We’re here to support you. If you’re not sure if you qualify or need help applying, please reach out—we’ll do our best to make it easy. Families, referrers, and young people are encouraged to provide feedback to help us improve access and experience. This policy will be reviewed in June 2026.