This programme puts creativity at the heart of engagement, to improve mental health outcomes for Children in Care.
Young people and their healthcare teams will come together side by side, engaging in creative activities and building connections in a whole new way. Our approach honours lived experience, prioritises co-design, encourages community and brings the transformative power of the arts to foster therapeutic engagement.
The development phase
Thanks to an initial development grant from the Maudsley Charity’s Building Brighter Futures fund, we were able to take the time to scope out a bold, creative and deeply participatory model for mental health support – led by the voices and needs of children in care themselves.
Over six months, we worked with the amazing team at Lewisham CAMHS to bring together artists, foster carers, social workers, healthcare professionals, researchers and, most importantly, young people, to rethink what support could and should look like. We saw first-hand how creativity – when placed at the centre of support – can build trust, encourage expression and improve engagement with mental health services to improve outcomes.
Our creative approaches engaged young people in care who might otherwise disengage, encouraged community and gave young people confidence to connect with CAMHS. Across every session, the arts allowed young people to express themselves with greater openness, confidence and authenticity.
