The Share Foundation offers free performing arts places for home educated young people
Six free Stepping Forward places for home educated learners
Youth charity The Share Foundation is inviting home educating families to try its online performing arts programme, with free access available for the first home education network or up to six individual learners who get in touch.
Stepping Forward: Explore the Performing Arts is a flexible online series designed to introduce young people to acting, singing, dancing and backstage arts. It is aimed primarily at young people aged 12 to 18 and does not require previous performing arts experience, specialist equipment or access to a studio or performance space. The programme was developed following The Share Foundation’s work with young people in care and has since been opened more widely so that young people can access it at home or through schools, education settings and youth organisations.
A flexible introduction to the performing arts
The programme has been developed with support from Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and the Rothschild Foundation, and introduces young people to a range of creative and performance-based skills. Contributors include actor and writer Zoë Lister, radio presenter Pandora Christie, singer Mo Jamil and actor Emeka Sesay. Each part of the series explores a different theme, with the programme designed to encourage creativity, communication and confidence as well as introducing young people to different areas of the performing arts.
For home ed families, the online format means young people can explore the material from home and without needing to commit immediately to a regular theatre, dance or music class. It may be particularly useful for teenagers who are curious about performing arts but would prefer to explore them privately or at their own pace first.
Why The Share Foundation opened the programme more widely
Josie Rylance, Programme Co-ordinator at The Share Foundation, said:
“We’ve seen incredible success with the original Stepping Forward programme through our work with local authorities, and the impact it has had on young people in care made us determined that we must open it up to all.
“We are passionate about the enormous benefits the performing arts can bring to young people, from creativity to confidence. Whether you’re a parent, teacher or youth worker, we’d love to hear from you.”
Six free places for home educated young people
The standard cost of Stepping Forward: Explore is £30 per individual learner, with discounted fees available for group purchases, including home education networks. To build stronger links with the home education community, The Share Foundation is offering a free trial to the first home education network or up to six individual learners who get in touch.
Families or home education groups interested in the offer can contact: info.sfexplore@sharefound.org
Home education and access to creative opportunities
Local authorities in England recorded 126,000 children in elective home education in autumn 2025. This figure only represents children known to local authorities rather than every home educated child, but it gives some indication of the growing number of families looking for learning opportunities outside school.
Access to performing arts can look very different from one home educating family to another. Some young people already take part in theatre groups, music lessons or dance classes, while others may be interested but unsure where to begin. Online programmes such as Stepping Forward: Explore offer another option. They do not replace face-to-face creative opportunities, but they can give young people a low-pressure way to explore performing arts, discover what interests them and decide whether they would like to take things further.
For families with a teenager who is curious about acting, singing, dance or what happens behind the scenes, the free places offer a simple way to try the programme without an upfront cost.
