Young people from Doncaster are carving out a brighter future for themselves - by creating totem poles for a country park!

Ten teenagers are combining creating sculptures made of wood with completing numeracy and literacy qualifications on a ten week summer college at Rother Valley Country Park.

Pictured is trainee Aaron Griffiths

And when it comes to molding a future in the arts they couldn’t have a better teacher than local sculptor, Simon Kent.

Former construction worker Simon struggled a bit at school due to dyslexia – but he’s since shaped a career for himself producing specially commissioned work for galleries, museums, parks and schools. Simon, who has also taught people from all walks of life including a 95-year-old blind man, describes his work as, “just taking my aggression out on a load of materials!”

It’s this background that has helped him develop a natural rapport with the young people – all of whom have had a troubled time in mainstream education.

“The aim of the course it to improve self-confidence” said Kieran Hill, Prove It Team Leader for Rathbone in South Yorkshire. “In the past, the young people have not had any positive feedback and been told that they are rubbish again and again. They’ve also experienced just about every social problem you can imagine - but we fully expect them to improve on this course.”

Following a week-long induction and team building session, the trainees have been tackling creative writing, photography, graffiti art and sculpture. Their progress is being constantly assessed and documented in their very own scrap-book. The young people have also been enjoying local day trips – including to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at Bretton Hall where work by sculptors such as Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore is exhibited.

Having planned out where they will be placing their totem poles and created colourful designs to go on them – which include words of wisdom and poetry - the young people will now turn their hand to actually creating a permanent reminder of their spell at Rother Valley Country Park.

The summer arts college is organised by Doncaster Youth Offending Service in partnership with the Serendipity Arts Project and Rathbone. The project also has the backing of Doncaster College.

To learn more about Simon Kent’s work, visit www.simon-kent.co.uk.