As young people suffer the toll of the pandemic on their mental health, a collaboration of charitable organisations in Cornwall is providing a creative solution. 

Delivered by a partnership of Arts Well, Creative Kernow and HeadStart Kernow, “Arts Labs” are being provided in various settings throughout the county from Newlyn and Breage to Bude and Torpoint, for 10-16 year olds. 

The need amongst young people after lockdown for fun, connection and exploration is evident, so Arts Lab is pooling resources and experience to build a bespoke creative wellbeing programme to address the mental and emotional health needs of young people.

It will pay particular attention to the impact of the pandemic, and to connect them to their local communities, giving them visibility and a voice. 

Izzy Bianchini, project manager for Arts Lab said: “Each Art Lab uses creative approaches in an evidenced-designed and fun way, utilising the “5 Ways to Wellbeing” framework as a basis for each workshop, run by an artist. 

“The priorities for projects are: to give young people agency to work on the project idea and development with artists; to have some connection or visibility in the young people’s local community; to support young people to feel more confident, happy, alert, resilient and connected to the world and each other.” 

With 39 projects delivered last year through initial funding from HeadStart Kernow, a minimum of 20 projects per year will now be delivered until March 2025 funded by Cornwall Council’s wellbeing and public health team. 

Rachel Wigglesworth, director of public health for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly said: “The past few years have been challenging and young people need support to achieve mental wellbeing. Creativity is an important way to achieve this and we are pleased to be able to fund the Arts Lab project over the next three years to reach more young people who can benefit from creative intervention.” 

The Arts Lab project invites artists to submit their ideas for intervention, alongside inviting schools and youth groups for ideas on the sorts of workshops they might like; the team then match groups and artists based on artist expertise, group interest and location, with artists receiving training in ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ and ‘Trauma-Informed Practice’. 

More than 1,000 children from mainstream schools, SEND schools, youth clubs, alternative provision and youth centres along with over 60 artists have already benefitted through sculpture, animation, model-making, film, song, dance, murals, parkour, interactive installations, zine-making, photography, banners, pod-casting, printmaking, graffiti and magical boxes of health and happiness – to mention a few mediums. 

Jayne Howard, director of Arts Well – a CIC championing the role that art and creativity plays in promoting health – said: “During 2022 63 artists and over 1100 young people took part, along with 147 teachers/youth workers to deliver workshops and events, as well as tens of thousands of digital engagements that resulted in fun, play, creative expression and giving young people control. 

“And 100 per cent of staff said that the projects had a positive impact on their young people’s wellbeing. With such resounding success we are looking forward to the outcomes of the projects already delivered this year and those that have yet to take place in the future.”

Some 25 planned projects for 2023 are being delivered across the county between March and July; followed by a new call out for applications from artists and youth settings in September for more projects in 2024.