
Support young people into employment and invest in the creative workforce of the future
Alternative Saturday Jobs (formerly Trailblaze) is part of our offer to give young people in challenging personal circumstances the opportunity to gain valuable part-time paid experience in a role in the creative and cultural industries.Alternative Saturday Jobs trainees are placed in a wide range of roles within the arts and cultural sector, including creative and technical roles, back-office, front-of-house, hospitality and marketing. Curious Minds works closely with arts and cultural organisations to provide a meaningful and worthwhile experience for young people and an interesting and genuine role to for them to fulfil.
An independent evaluation (June 2015) reported that the programme had consistently provided authentic work experience for young people in the arts and cultural sector. The evaluation evidenced that by the end of the twelve week placement employers considered all of the young people ‘highly employable and work ready’.
On average young people experienced:
On average young people experienced:
- 36% rise in confidence and their ability to communicate
- 28% rise in their ability to self-organise and problem solve
- 26% increase in their ability to participate effectively in a team
- 20% improvement in their time keeping
Want to get involved?
This is a great opportunity to invest in a young person at the start of their career and have them add value to your organisation through their skills. Alternative Saturday Jobs placements are only available subject to funding and it is not a rolling programme.If you are an employer, young person or support worker please register your interest by contacting Holly Ball at Curious Minds.


Alternative Saturday Jobs on our blog
August 3, 2023
How young people with Alternative Saturday Jobs have been teaching cultural organisations and partnerships about access and inclusion in their local area.
February 24, 2023
If you want to know how we can best develop the next generation of creative workforce, ask Holly Ball.
April 12, 2019
Rizwan Iqbal, Community Producer at Manchester International Festival (MIF) shares his thoughts and reflections on Trailblaze placement, Jessica Mallard.