Sketchy Youths is a peer-led artists’ collective for young people aged 15-25 who want more advanced training to prepare for a career in the creative industries.
In Autumn 2025, this Impact Arts’ programme will relaunch and open its doors to new and past participants.
Over the course of 10 weeks as one of our Sketchy Youths ‘champions’, you’ll meet weekly to receive training in preparing and delivering your own creative workshops for young people on the next Impactful Starts programmes. These workshops may include painting, digital art, podcasting, comic book making, and more.
Throughout the following 20 months, you’ll will encourage Impactful Starts ‘graduates’ to join monthly half-day workshops to learn additional creative skills and shape the ongoing design of our programmes.
To strengthen community arts, youth voice, advocacy, and leadership skills, you’ll also encourage the ‘graduates’ to volunteer on programmes and you’ll get access to studio space within The Boardwalk.

As a Sketchy Youth, you’ll get the opportunity to opportunity to join one of our Creative Industry Academy courses which offer specialist training in specific areas of the creative industries.
Volunteers are also supported with regular supervision meetings with the Youth Voices Coordinator – this will provide an opportunity to discuss your learning and development goals, accreditation, and employability skills.
Suitable accreditations will also be offered to each volunteer – this could be an SQA, Community Achievement Award, or Saltire Award.
