Being a Labour party member in the student movement is often challenging but this week one policy announcement reinforced what it is to be Labour.

The launch of the free theatre scheme, which offers 618,000 free theatre tickets to under 26 year olds in 200 locations up and down the country demonstrates the Governments ongoing commitment to education through the opportunity to explore arts and culture. The scheme which opened last week for young people under 26 will give many the chance to experience the best of Britain’s arts for free.

Some will scorn this scheme, and when the Government first made museums free many underplayed the important role arts and culture play in informal education and development of young people. Whilst I accept this policy announcement may seem a small step given the scale of other problems facing the country at the moment we should never underestimate what this might mean for many young people who would never have got the chance to go to the theatre before.

It’s particularly important for me because when I was growing up many families like mine simply couldn’t afford to go to watch plays, and with a recession upon us those pressures will resurface for families up and down the country. We often talk about widening participation, and the need to drive interest in University amongst non traditional entrants, but the appetite for University doesn’t just come from the academic setting, it’s about giving many young people an escape from their immediate surroundings, and exposure to what they could aspire to- and the arts play a important role in that.

The impact for NUS members is also significant. With students already able to access some cheap seats, the free tickets will allow students studying courses that require a frequent trip to the theatre some much needed financial respite.

The scheme is still small, and the range of offers is still limited, but the direction is certainly positive. Our theatres need young people to start taking an interest, and developing a love for theatre if they are going to continue to thrive.

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