Get creative & shape your future
Are you ready to take your next step? Join Making It! It’s our free creative employability programme for unemployed young people and unemployed adults in North Lanarkshire.
Discover your artistic side with a range of creative activities that could include painting, sculpture, photography, filmmaking, animation, music making, and creative writing.
No prior creative experience is required.
In Making It, you’ll also receive 1:1 support and advice on how to plan your next steps and progress into employment, further education, or training.
We’ll also cover your bus or train travel expenses to the venue.
This programme includes a range of workshops, outdoor visits to improve mental health and physical wellbeing, training in core employability skills like CV writing and interview prep, and support to gain qualifications
Eligibility
To be eligible for Making It North Lanarkshire, you must be either a young person aged 16-24 who has left school within the last 6 months and is currently out of work, education, or training, or an adult aged 25 or over who is currently out of work, education, or training (must be of working age i.e. not retired).
If you are an adult experiencing unemployment, you’re eligible if one (or more) of the following statements apply to you:
- You have a physical or learning disability
- You have a health condition
- You live in an area of deprivation
- You are an ethnic minority resident (including refugees)
- You are a parent/caregiver, lone parent, or a parent under the age of 25
Programme details
Making It for young people (aged 16-24)
Dates: Every Tuesday at 10am-3pm, January 6th – March 24th 2026
Venue: North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre, High Road, Motherwell, ML1 3HU
Making It for adults (aged 25+)
Dates: Every Wednesday at 9:30am-2:30pm, January 7th – March 25th 2026
Venue: North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre, High Road, Motherwell, ML1 3HU
Making It is made possible by
Create Thrive Enterprise
This programme is currently closed.
Create Thrive Enterprise will work with 10 unemployed individuals in North Lanarkshire who are interested in pursuing a career within the creative industries, equipping them with the skills, knowledge and experience needed to start their own businesses.
Over 10 weeks participants will work to gain an SCQF Level 3 qualification, and work towards setting up as self-employed. They will have 1 hour per week of mentoring from a matched industry professional working in the creative sector. At the end of the programme, they will undertake a paid 2-week work placement in an organisation which matches their interest.
Finally, participants will receive a fund to pay for creative area-specific training, and/or membership of a relevant organisation, or to attend a conference/event or other similar opportunities for developing their business model.
Participants will receive up on £30 per week as a training allowance for attending the programme.
“It was an amazing opportunity to explore community arts and discover more outside my own discipline of silver jewellery.”
Free whole family art sessions
Art Wise is a parent and child therapeutic art programme supporting families to thrive and stay connected.
This programme runs in locations across Central Scotland and aims to help families meet their individual needs, build stronger bonds, and have fun through creative play.
In this programme, you’ll get support to better understand your child’s behaviour and develop tools to connect and communicate with them.
We’ll also help you support your child to identify their own needs and develop coping strategies using art and creativity.
Working with a qualified Art Therapist and Wellbeing Support Worker, you will have a mix of parents/carer sessions and whole family creative play sessions.
Art Wise is free to attend, snacks are provided, and we reimburse your travel costs.
Helping families thrive
In this programme, you will have the opportunity to connect with other parents in your local community, access peer support, and find local support networks to help with other aspects of family life including benefits, welfare, food security, relationship support, nutrition, and more.
To be eligible to join Art Wise, you must be one of the following: parent under 25 years old; ethnic minority parent; lone parent; parent with 3+ children; parent with a disability; parent struggling with mental health; or parent affected by substance misuse.
“I always feel less anxious and relaxed after coming to Art Wise. I love seeing my daughter free to explore the messy play and her interactions with others.”
Locations
Renfrewshire
Who: Parents/carers and children aged 4-11
Dates & times: Wednesdays at 1:30pm – 2:30pm (parent sessions) and 3:00pm – 4:30pm (whole family sessions), January 14th – March 25th 2026
Location: Foxbar Community Centre, Amochrie Road, Paisley, PA2 0LB
Falkirk
Infant Group
Who: Parents/carers and children aged 0-3
Dates & times: Fridays at 10:15am-11:45am, February 27th – May 8th 2026
Location: The Braes Children and Families Centre, 68-70 Forgie Crescent, Maddiston, FK2 0LZ
Neurodiverse Families Group
Who: Parents/carers and children of primary school age
Dates & times: Fridays at 1:30pm-2:30pm, February 27th – May 8th 2026
Location: The Braes Children and Families Centre, 68-70 Forgie Crescent, Maddiston, FK2 0LZ
Travel expenses provided
North Lanarkshire
Art Wise in North Lanarkshire operates as part of the Families Here and Now Service (FHANS). For more info, please email jamielee.aitken@impactarts.co.uk or call on 07919 501 479.
“A safe space to talk about personal and parenting challenges and receive emotional support.”
We Work With Some Incredible Partners
Create, grow & connect with Impactful Parents
Are you a parent or caregiver experiencing unemployment?
Do you want to get creative, learn new skills, and find a new job, course, or training opportunity? Join Impactful Parents in North Ayrshire, West Lothian or Falkirk!
Impactful Parents is a free stage 1, non-traditional creative employability project.
Discover your creative side with art workshops, build your confidence, connect with other parents, and gain qualifications including a SQA Communications Unit. You’ll get to work with an Artist, Wellbeing Support Worker, and Opportunities Co-ordinator providing 1:1 and group support.
And we’ll cover your bus or train travel expenses to the programme!
Explore art and get 1:1 and group support in core employability skills like CV and application writing, interview prep, and sourcing opportunities
North Ayrshire
Programme details
Free lunch provided!
Impactful Parents North Ayrshire is open to all unemployed parents of working age in the area, with travel expenses provided to our location in Irvine.
When: Mondays and Tuesdays, 9:30am – 1pm | January 19th – March 10th 2026
Venue: Impact Arts, 60 Bank Street, Irvine KA12 0LP
A place for you to build your confidence and boost your wellbeing
West Lothian
Programme details
Impactful Parents West Lothian is open to unemployed or underemployed lone (single) parents and ethnic minority parents. Underemployed refers to people who are doing casual work, part-time work, zero hour contracts, or working in a sector they’re not satisfied in. Ethnic minority refers to any individuals who do not identify as white British.
Even if you’re unsure if you’re eligible, email: fin.russell@impactarts.co.uk
When taking part, you’ll receive up to £15 per day training allowance for attending the programme, plus travel expenses. In-person participants will receive a free catered lunch at every session whilst online participants will receive a free art pack to use at home.
West Calder
When: Wednesdays, 9:30am – 2:30pm | April 20th – June 8th 2026
Venue: West Calder Community Hub, Dickson Street, West Calder EH55 8DZ
Livingston
When: Thursdays, 9:30am – 2:30pm | April 23rd – June 11th 2026
Venue: Reconnect Howden Park, Howden Park Centre, Livingston EH54 6AE
Falkirk
Programme details
Impactful Parents Falkirk is open to unemployed or underemployed parents. Underemployed refers to people who are doing casual work, part-time work, zero hour contracts, or working in a sector they’re not satisfied in.
Even if you’re unsure if you’re eligible, email: fin.russell@impactarts.co.uk
All travel expenses will be covered and participants will receive a light refreshments at every session.
Falkirk
When: 9th, 13th, 16th, 20th, 23rd & 27th March 9:30am – 12:30pm
Venue: Westfield Park Community Centre, Falkirk, FK2 9DX
What to expect
On our Impactful Parents programme, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in creative activities such as painting, sculpture, animation, music making, or creative writing.
We’ll also help you prepare to progress into work, further education, or training, establish a routine, create a CV, prepare for interviews, and look for opportunities.
There will be a focus on mental health and wellbeing where you can learn about mindfulness and good eating, get outside and visit community projects, and take part in confidence-building creative workshops.
We work with some incredible partners
See them all
Make It Your Own
Make It Your Own is a tenancy sustainment and creative interior design programme, helping you take ownership of your tenancy and decorate it so it feels like yours.
You’ll benefit from practical support to find your own style, life skills training and development (e.g. financial management, basic DIY skills, setting routines and planning), and support to set goals for the future as well as a home improvement budget of up to £150 per participant.
This programme is suited to people who: have been homeless or are at risk of homelessness; are care experienced; are about to move or have just moved into their first tenancy; and/or are struggling to make their house feel like a home.
Impact Arts can also support with you with travel expenses.
We will work with you to explore how you can turn a house into your home
Creative projects for your new home
Almost 100% of participants sustain their tenancies long-term
Together, we’ll work on small scale creative projects such including decorating household items, making wall art and small ceramics, hand sewing, machine sewing, and upcycling small pieces of furniture.
- Learning the design process: You’ll learn how to research, mood board, generate ideas, plan and implement projects in the home.
- Light touch DIY teaching: Using videos and explanations. You’ll also get a resource pack to keep with links and how-to tutorials.
- Learning to DIY on a budget: You’ll learn and the group will share hints, tips, and resources.
- Shopping trips: You’ll go on trips to local secondhand retailers to look at and buy furniture or items for the home with your personal shopping budget.
Here’s what you’ll receive
- Receive a home improvement budget
- Receive a welcome pack that is tailored to you and contains creative and practical materials
- Have weekly one to one sessions with the tutor, where they will work with you to set out tasks for the week ahead. Including a tour of your home and discussions to establish what you would like to improve while creating mood boards.
- Have the opportunity to attend weekly private Facebook live sessions to allow you to join in a creative activity, ask questions and have the opportunity to share your creative creations with other people on the project
- Remain part of the Make It Your Own community after sessions are complete
Programme details
MIYO Renfrewshire
Location: 35 George Street, Paisley, PA1 2LE
Eligibility: For aged 18+ Renfrewshire Council tenants only
How to join: Click here to sign up
MIYO Falkirk
Dates: March 3rd-May 12th, Tuesdays 9.30am-12.30pm
Location: 1st Falkirk Scout Hall, Pleasance, Falkirk FK1 1BG
Eligibility: Adults at risk of homelessness
How to join: Click here to sign up
FHANS MIYO North Lanarkshire
This MIYO project is a weekly parents group session running at Motherwell Library. The programme consists of workshops facilitated by an Interior Designer and Wellbeing Support Worker.
Dates: Jan 20th – March 31st 2026, Tuesdays 10am – 2pm
Location: Motherwell Library Makers Space, 35 Hamilton Rd, Motherwell ML1 3BZ
Eligibility: North Lanarkshire parents only
How to join: MIYO North Lanarkshire is operating as part of the Families Here and Now Service (FHANS). For more information, please contact jamielee.aitken@impactarts.co.uk or call on 07919 501 479.
We Work With Some Incredible Partners
