Many examples are given by project facilitators of the beneficial impacts the scheme had on young people. The opportunity they had to experience new techniques and activities, including a range of art forms and media, and the chance to research, design and create something from scratch was highly valued. Projects were felt to have scored well in terms of enjoyment and inspiration, promoting deeper knowledge and understanding, and imparting new skills, especially those that can be used in daily life. There was slightly less certainty that young people’s attitudes, values, future motivation and behaviour had been significantly changed through OCG2, although individual examples were given.
Amgueddfa Cymru ~ National Museum Wales built a valuable partnership infrastructure through OCG2 that has huge potential as a mechanism for extending the accessibility of Amgueddfa Cymru ~ National Museum Wales’ resources beyond traditional audiences. Discussions with youth workers, teachers and artists emphasised the value they all place on the relationship with the institution and their firm hopes that this will be sustained and developed in the future. Suggestions were made of how the relationship with the youth services sector could be further strengthened strategically.
Graphical analysis of European Social Fund monitoring data indicated that OCG2 surpassed virtually all its targets by the time the scheme finished in March 2007. This excellent achievement reflects the enthusiasm and hard work of both the OCG2 team and its many youth work and community arts partners. Nearly 600 young people enrolled in OCG2 projects, 50% more than was initially anticipated. Our evaluation clearly shows that OCG2 has had a beneficial impact on many young people and their local communities. Over 85% of participants who enrolled submitted Open College Network files that resulted in them achieving an accreditation. This is an excellent out-turn enabling about 500 young people to attain an accredited award, many for the first time. Interestingly, the success rate for males was 91% compared with 81% for females. The success rate for minorities was nearly 95%. The success rate across all five counties was reasonably uniform.