My experience of Talent Match London – Lateisha Dobbs
LATEISHA AND HER POEM
Before she began with Talent Match London, Lateisha Dobbs was struggling to find work, but not for lack of effort or enthusiasm. By her own admission a quiet and reserved person, the team at Collage Arts working on Talent Match London helped Lateisha to find a more extroverted side and even offered the opportunity to find her voice through a workshop on poetry, something she’d always been interested in and used to express herself. Here are her thoughts on it.
Q: When it was suggested that Talent Match members create a piece of art to express how they felt about the programme, did you decide on poetry straight away? Did you already have an idea of how it would go?
Lateisha: I didn’t decide on poetry straight away as I’m not really used to writing poems for other people or writing poems that will be showcased, I usually just write for myself. At first I struggled with how to start the poem but after the first few sentences it became a lot easier as I was just writing about something that I really cared about and felt was true.
Q: You talk about the family type bond and sense of companionship on Talent Match, is that really the feeling there? Could you tell us a bit more about that?
Lateisha: During my search for jobs I’ve received help from different agencies and organisations and I can honestly none of them have helped me like I’ve received on Talent Match. Collage Arts were the only organisation that sat me down and really got to know me and helped me figure out what path I wanted to take and how to overcome any Barriers stopping me from doing so. They are very easy to talk to, always willing to listen and wanting to help and they make you feel as if you are their equals which I feel as a young person is important. Everybody at Talent Match only wishes the best for each other and you can always sense the genuine respect and friendship amongst everyone.
LISTEN TO LATEISHA’S POEM HERE:
OR ON SOUNDCLOUD
BACKGROUND TO TALENT MATCH LONDON AND COLLAGE ARTS
Collage Arts is a not-for-profit charity which has been committed to fostering and developing creative communities, through art, for the past three decades. Whether that’s at the artist studios the organisation manages in North London’s renowned Chocolate Factory, or through partnerships with cultural development organisations all over the world, Collage Arts’ mission is to connect and facilitate artists and arts-based learning wherever, and however possible. With events and exhibitions always taking place, designed to include all members of society, as well as pioneering involvement in a number of training schemes for young artists and entrepreneurs; every new venture is a step closer to achieving that mission. www.collage-arts.org
Collage Arts lead the North London Talent Match delivery partnership in partnership with Enterprise Enfield, KORI and Rinova. www.discoveryourtalent.co.uk
Talent Match London is an employability programme for 18-24 year olds in London who have been out of work or studying for more than a year, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and led by London Youth with over 30 community and youth organisations across London. www.talentmatchlondon.org
Download a PDF of My Experience of Talent Match London – A Poem by Lateisha Dobbs