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Using #BeeWell data two years ago, practitioners at 42nd Street (a young person’s mental health charity in Manchester) noticed that young people’s levels of creativity, and their access to creativity, was beginning to fall by the time they reached Year 8. This is also the point at which a large percentage of the young people they work with are referred in for support.
They responded to this with a plan to set up a creative drop in in a school setting, specifically at Cedar Mount Academy in Gorton.
We have been invited in to meet with this group on two occasions and the young people have shared stories with us about how impactful this has been for them. Attending this group has improved their sense of belonging at school, has helped with attendance, has introduced them to new friends, and has given them a place to share their worries and concerns.
This group has also recently used #BeeWell data to create a Zine (How to become a trusted adult) which looks at what it means to be a trusted adult.
Going into this group has been an inspiration. It’s amazing to see young people successfully overcoming challenges through art and creativity in a safe space.
You can hear more about what they think of the group in the video above.
Katie Cosgrave, the Creative Mental Health Practitioner who facilitates the group, told us: ‘Now, more than ever, young people are seeking community and connection. The brave space we create offers this in an environment that is easy to navigate. The young people have chosen to participate in a group that focuses on their creativity and their well-being. These two areas are crucial to their mental health and will help them succeed in whatever it is they choose to do now and in the future.’
