Introducing RicNic’s New Programmes
Established by school students in 2004 as a summer project, RicNic has grown into a charity where young people are at the heart of everything; from shaping creative projects to taking leadership roles across the organisation.
Our core programmes provide regular opportunities for children, teenagers and young adults to be creative and produce their own events, products and small businesses. We promote youth leadership with tangible results, helping young people to develop their financial literacy, communication and understanding of the world.
Our vision is clear:
A world where every young person has the confidence, tools, and platforms to shape their communities through creativity and leadership.
Our New Programme Strands
Our new strands create a clear pathway for children, teenagers, and young adults to explore creativity, build confidence, and step into leadership.
Foundry
Aimed at under 16s, Foundry provides spaces for children and their families to explore creative skills with an end goal of creating events or products for their local community. This includes after-school young-enterprise style projects, free holiday clubs, and one-off workshops with visiting artists such as West-End performers.
Recent Foundry projects have included:
- Short plays
- Keyrings and badges
- A family recipe and activity book
- Workshops with cast members from Hamilton, Mary Poppins, and Aladdin
- Craft sessions contributing to Walsall MakerFest
FORGE – Skills, Mentoring & Creative Careers (16+)
Forge supports young adults as they explore creative industries and develop transferable skills for work and life. It includes:
- Associates – Practical group training for NEET young adults, culminating in a community event
- Breaking In – Employability sessions, networking, and masterclasses
- Creative Industry Coaching – 1‑1 support for those leaving school, college, or university
- Creative Mentoring – Building confidence, ambition, and direction through creative engagement
FLOURISH – Workshops for Schools, Businesses & Communities
Flourish brings creativity into classrooms, workplaces, and community spaces. These workshops are adaptable, youth‑led, and designed to build independence, leadership, and social enterprise skills.
Workshops span all ages, including:
- Early Years & KS1: Story Sailors, Story Tents
- KS2–KS3: Twisted Tales, Aspirational Tiles, Pitch & Present
- KS3–HE: Devising, Producing, Freelancing, Social Enterprise
Flourish helps participants of all ages explore ideas, express themselves, and develop confidence in their own voice.
Why This Matters
RicNic’s impact goes far beyond creative output. Young people tell us that RicNic is:
- A place to express themselves and try new ideas
- A friendly, welcoming space where they feel supported
- A safe environment to make friends and build confidence
We also offer paid roles, work experience, and trustee opportunities—because young people deserve real responsibility and real investment.
As one participant put it:
“Coming to RicNic just makes me feel happy!”