Friday Folk

A YOUNG artist is creating a bright future for herself - thanks to help from the Prince's Trust Volunteers.

Emma Clarke, 24, was unemployed for nearly a year after graduating from university and felt she would never find the right job.

But she is now successfully self-employed after completing a Prince's Trust Volunteers personal development course at the YMCA in Blackburn which gave her the confidence to strike out on her own.

Emma, from Stockport, studied Fine Art at Staffordshire University in Stoke on Trent but could not find work when she graduated.

She moved to Brockhall Village to live with other artists, in the hope that she would find a job which allowed her to use her skills as a sculptor.

But after nearly a year, she was still signing on.

The Job Centre suggested she go on the course, based at the YMCA in Blackburn.

As well as working on team-building and leadership exercises, Emma helped environmental group Groundwork build a boardwalk at Newfield Brook, Roman Road, Blackburn. But it was a two-week placement at Action Factory community workshop in Simmons Street, Blackburn, which was to put her career on course.

During the placement she helped staff with workshops on everything from puppet-making to murals.

At the end of the course she popped back into Action Factory - and that led to more work.

She is now employed by the workshop on a freelance basis and is picking up more work all the time as her reputation spreads.

Eventually she hopes to be able to work abroad - perhaps making puppets for the street festivals which are popular in mainland Europe.

She said: "While I have been working at Action Factory I have learned a lot.

"It has given me confidence to see that people are making a living from art."

WIthout the Prince's Trust, Emma believes she would still be signing on.

"I think I would have carried on doing my own work but the course has given me confidence to push myself.

"It motivated me and I made some very good friends. I would recommend it to anyone."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.