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Building a Sustainable Future for Discover! Creative Careers

15 April 2025

Challenge

Discover! Creative Careers, a nationwide programme run by ScreenSkills, faced the challenge of transitioning from reliance on public funding to a more sustainable, mixed income model. The team needed support in identifying and attracting new sources of funding, including trusts, individuals, and corporate donations, to secure long-term financial sustainability.

Response

We conducted a rapid Opportunities Assessment in close collaboration with the Discover! team. Drawing on our experience in today’s challenging funding landscape, we highlighted the programme’s most compelling elements and provided a targeted list of priority prospects. This was shared with the team, along with guidance on crafting funding appeals and a clear set of next steps to kickstart their fundraising efforts.

Impact 

  • Discover! Creative Careers has a clear understanding of its potential for attracting philanthropic support.
  • We provided a roadmap for income diversification, which was presented to the programme’s finance committee, including members of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England.
  • The team secured an additional 3 years of funding from DCMS to extend their programme.
  • They are now implementing our recommendations to build alternative income streams for long-term sustainability.
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