Supporting Young Minds activity across the Isle of Wight

Artswork’s Supporting Young Minds investment programme aims to model best practice in the use of creativity to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, particularly in disadvantaged communities, through five linked projects across the South East.

On the Isle of Wight, young people have been given agency to re-design their local environments. Inspired by the Island’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Status, it is enabling creative, physically active, outdoor experiences out-of-school for children and young people considered at risk of requiring access to a mental health service due to their circumstances. A number of activities are now underway, that provide opportunities for investment in localised interventions.

Local art trails

Young people from Newport’s Youth Panel, based at Independent Arts, wanted to work with an artist to make a positive impact in local ‘negative spaces’, and create an eye-catch public art work. Inspired by the Island’s Biosphere, the panel have worked with artist Laura Hathaway to transform the windows of the former Topshop building with monochrome art works, and are extending their art trail to other sites – including Newport Bus Station.

The lovely Newport #SupportingYoungMinds group and @laurahathaway1 extended their art trail today, with this fabulous window at @Stainless_Games on Newport High Street. If you’re on the #IsleofWight , check it out #youthvoice #IWBiosphere @ArtsworkLtd @TheIslandColle2 @IW_CEP pic.twitter.com/X8d76PL4o6

— Independent Arts (@IndependentArts) February 15, 2023

Further local art trails are due to take place in Ventor and Ryde.

In Ventnor, an empty space will be handed over to young people who will work with professional creatives to transform it into somewhere that encourages young people to get outside, engage with the IW Biosphere and get more physically active.

Meanwhile, an artist is being sought to work with young people in Ryde – who will be selected by local young people themselves as part of a ‘Dragons’ Den’ event on Monday 27th February. Artists interested in supporting the Ryde project have until Monday 20th February to respond to the commission here.

Sandown and Lake Youth Forum

Young people from Sandown and Lake Youth Forum worked with filmmaker Bruce Webb to tell their stories through film.

Created during Autumn 2022, the group’s film Do Something Different, focusing on the experiences of young people living in the Bay area, premiered at Sandown Library on Friday 3rd February.

 

Amazing turnout & feedback from Sandown & Lake youth forum’s film premiere “Do Something Different” last night.
We are so proud of the 10 young people involved & believe this is just the start of journey for #YouthVoice, #SocialAction & film.#IsleofWight
Thanks to everyone 👏 pic.twitter.com/VC1lS4Uodq

— Community Resilience Project – Bay area, IOW (@BayResilience) February 4, 2023

Supporting Wellbeing through Creativity CPD, Tuesday 14th March 2023

Mental health workers, youth professionals, teachers and school-based support workers from across the Isle of Wight are invited to join a free half-day CPD session looking at ways of embedding creative approaches in their work to promote good mental health and wellbeing for children and young people.

Find out more and book your place here

The Isle of Wight Supporting Young Minds project, in partnership with Artswork, is led by The Island Collection – host organisation of the Isle of Wight Cultural Education Partnership (IW CEP) – and managed by IW CEP member organisation Independent Arts. Partners include Isle of Wight Youth Trust, Community Action Isle of Wight, Energise Me, Isle of Wight Council and Wight AONB.

This project is part of Artswork’s Supporting Young Minds investment programme – five linked projects taking place across the South East that aims to model best practice in the use of creativity to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

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Cultural Education Partnership Isle of Wight Supporting Young Minds