Arts and Culture - Helping Children Discover New Possibilities

How Does Mentoring Support Arts and Culture Access for Children?
A Guide for Schools

The Kids Network explains how child-led mentoring gives children access to museums, galleries and creative experiences, supporting the arts and culture strand of the Department for Education's Enrichment Framework.

What role do arts and culture play in child development?

Creative experiences such as visiting a museum, watching a theatre performance, picking up a paintbrush or discovering music help children build confidence, express themselves and see new possibilities for their future. Every child deserves the chance to discover what inspires them.

Arts and culture form a key part of the Department for Education's new Enrichment Framework, recognising the important role creativityplays in children's wellbeing, self-expression and personal development.

How does mentoring give children access to arts andculture?

Mentoring gives children access to arts and culture by pairing them with a trusted adult who takes them to museums, galleries, exhibitions and cultural landmarks across London, experiences many children would not otherwise have the opportunity to access.

At The Kids Network (TKN), we know that confidence often grows through experience. Our volunteer mentors encourage children to explore new places, try new activities and discover interests they may never have had the opportunity to experience before. Together, mentoring pairs visit museums, galleries, exhibitions and cultural landmarks across London, helping children build confidence while showing them that this city is theirs to explore.

What do children gain from these cultural experiences?

Children gain curiosity, self-expression and the discovery of talents and passions they may not have known they had, alongside the experience of trying something completely new with a trusted adult who encourages, celebrates and supports them.

These moments aren't just enjoyable days out. They're opportunities for children to develop curiosity, find their voice and discover talents and passions they may not have known they had. For many children, they're also a chance to experience something completely new alongside a trusted adult who is there to encourage, celebrate and support them every step of the way.

How can schools use mentoring to meet the Enrichment Framework's arts and culture benchmark?

Schools can meet the arts and culture benchmark by partnering with community mentoring organisations like The Kids Network, which provide regular, funded access to cultural experiences for children facing adversity, without requiring additional school budget or staff time.

As schools continue to strengthen their enrichment offer,mentoring provides another pathway into arts and culture, helping more childrenaccess creative experiences, broaden their horizons and build the confidence toembrace new opportunities long into the future.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of cultural experiences do TKN mentoring pairstake part in?
Mentoring pairs visit museums, galleries, exhibitions and cultural landmarks across London as part of their regular weekly sessions.

Is there a cost to families for these activities?
No. TKN mentors and children have access to a monthly activity budget, so cultural experiences are fully funded and free for the families and children we work with.

Does arts and culture access count towards the DfE's Enrichment Framework?
Yes. Arts and culture is one of the five enrichment categories in the DfE's framework, and mentoring provides a direct, practical route for schools to deliver against it.