Date February 2018

Skills for the Future Success in Wales – opening doors to careers in heritage

Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future Programme has agreed funding for a new project focussed on supporting young people to achieve qualifications through learning in a cultural heritage setting.

Uchelgais Diwylliannol – Cultural Ambition, led by Creative & Cultural Skills and the Museums, Archives and Libraries Division of Welsh Government, will create 33 12-month training placements over a three-year period which will provide transformative experiences for young people. Trainees will be aged 18-24 and will be non-graduates who are not in education, employment or training.

The project links strongly with the Fusion: Creating Opportunities through Culture programme,a groundbreaking Welsh Government initiative using culture and heritage to support individuals and communities experiencing disadvantage. Each young person will work towards an NVQ 2 qualification in Cultural Heritage, and receive a monthly bursary. The programme will provide trainees with vitaltransferable skills and, it is anticipated, support them to gain skills to find future employment. The project directly supports the Welsh Government’s commitment to boosting skills and employability, as set out in Prosperity for All.

This project will work with a network of partner sites across Wales to provide placements. Along with these lead partner sites, other local venues will also take part, to ensure that trainees receive a broad range of experience in the sector. Lead partners on this work are Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, the National Library of Wales, Cadw, Wrexham Museum and Archives, Cardiff Story Museum and Glamorgan Archives.

The Welsh Government has committed to match-funding the project. Lord Elis-Thomas, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, said:

“The heritage and culture sector is a major employer in Wales, but many young people do not have the opportunity to get a foot in the door, or do not consider it as a potential career. I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is awarding funding for the UchelgaisDiwylliannol – Cultural Ambition project, which can help put that right and transform lives.

“It very much embodies what our groundbreaking Fusion programme is all about and underlines the Welsh Government’s commitment to supporting our young people to gain skills and into employment. It is also a wonderful example of partnership working, with heritage bodies of all shapes and sizes coming together to give people a helping hand.”

Creative & Cultural Skills in an independent charity working to support young people to work and learn in the creative and cultural sector. Nations Director Sara Graham said: “This piece of work is really important for Creative & Cultural Skills in Wales. We know there are skills gaps in the sector and a lack of diversity in the museums and heritage workforce. This project tackles both those issues by helping young people to gain the right skills to compete for entry-level roles in the heritage sector. Through this work, we will be supporting cultural heritage sites across Wales to open their doors to young people who, previously, may not have considered a career in this sector. With the support of Welsh Goverment and Communities for Work, we will be able to get the message about these placements out to those who will benefit the most.”

Richard Bellamy, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, said: “The National Lottery funds all sorts of heritage projects, and it’s not always big old buildings and museums. Working hand in hand with the Welsh Government’s Fusion programme, the UchelgaisDiwylliannol – Cultural Ambition project will help change people’s perceptions and inspire our young people, giving them new skills that they can carry with them for life.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, Wales’s next generation will not only be inspired by our country’s diverse heritage, but actually given the tools they need to go out there and help shape its future.”

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Notes for Editors

Creative & Cultural Skills gives young people opportunities to work and learn in the creative industries. We are an independent charity that provides careers advice and guidance, promotes apprenticeships, and delivers activities for young people through our National Skills Academy network of industry and education supporters. Since 2008, we‘ve created over 7,000 Creative Apprenticeships and provided over 5 million people with careers advice. Visit for more information.

For further information, images, and interviews, please contact the Creative & Cultural Skills Press Office: T: 020 7015 1800|

Fusion is an innovative Welsh Government programme that enables the arts, culture and heritage to directly support individuals and communities, particularly those experiencing disadvantage. It is focussed on promoting:

  • employability and skills, particularly through accredited skills and courses, volunteering and training placements
  • cultural programmes that support confidence and empowerment, particularly for young people
  • culture as a tool to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing
  • supporting the early years through literacy and family learning programmes.

For more information visit

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