Celebrating exceptional Emerging Artists and the Foot in the Door progression scheme
At Doorstep, we are proud to nurture young people not just as participants but as emerging artists. Our ‘Foot in the Door’ Progression scheme supports young people with leadership capacity and clear potential to take their next steps toward work as Teaching Artists. In this blogpost, we want to celebrate the incredible work of paid Assistant Artists Teagan and Pip, as well as a number of other Doorstep young volunteers, who each bring a unique skillset to their work with us. Our paid Assistant Artist roles are made possible thanks to generous donations support from the local Rotary organisations, and we are so grateful to them for their ongoing charitable giving and support of our work in Torbay.
Assistant Artists: Teagan & Pip
Teagan supports our junior DAS groups, which focus on musical theatre & Pip has been assisting with both of our Saturday drama groups, where young people explore imaginative play and devising original stories for performance. Both Teagan and Pip have stepped into these roles with confidence and care, showing dedication and professionalism in their weekly delivery.
Will they go on to work professionally as drama facilitators in their later careers? Their capacity is certain, their potential limitless. We don’t know what the future will hold for them careers-wise. But what we do know is that these current roles are equipping them with so many vital skills for the future, whatever that future may hold. They are learning how to nurture others, respond to the needs of the room, adapt plans when things change, lead activities and support young people to express their creativity and share their ideas confidently.
Both Teagan and Pip have been participants in Doorstep groups since they were young, so they deeply understand that our spaces are always young person-led. They bring this ethos to their roles beautifully.
This term, Teagan has been gaining confidence leading dance routines with the juniors which has been so beautiful to watch her grow in her leadership. Pip has a gift in working responsively with Early Years ages and is showing ever-growing confidence in leading games in sessions, adapting them to connect with the term’s themes and ensuring everyone is included.
Here is what both Teagan and Pip had to say about their role at Doorstep, from teaching in their groups to leading across new groups:
‘I really enjoy going into the different groups that I don’t normally teach because I love seeing the dedication and effort they put in. Also how everyone adds their own style of dance to the dances which I love. I also enjoy meeting everyone and their enthusiasm for what we do’. – Teagan
“The Saturday groups have given me so much over the past year. Each week they give me the chance to develop my skills as a learning facilitator, and to try out new games and exercises (even if they completely fail). I love to watch Natasha lead and drive the groups with such class and aptitude. Meanwhile the groups still allow me to have fun and be silly with all the young people – especially at a time when I was deep in exam season it was such a joy to get to just play and create imaginative stories. However most of all the gift of Saturday drama is getting to see all the young people that attend our groups each week. They are such a talented bunch filled with kindness and empathy – which makes my job a pleasure and a privilege to work with them.” – Pip
We also are lucky to have an additional array of incredible young people who choose to volunteer their time to assist in groups. Each young person is on their own journey, learning the craft of facilitation and how to ensure that every voice is heard, no matter someone’s age, confidence, communication needs, access requirements or the barriers they may face. At Doorstep, we believe in creating spaces where everyone belongs and Teagan and Pip model this beautifully in their work each week.
We are so grateful for Teagan and Pip and all the volunteers who choose to develop their skills with us. They remind us every week of the power of young people leading the way.
