The Creative Minds Project includes 4 Creative Wellbeing hubs across South Wales who take part in delivering bespoke, creative arts based workshops to young people aged 14-25 supporting their insight and understanding of their own, their peers, and their communities experiences of mental health and wellbeing.
James Wilder, a member of the Spirit of 2012 Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) visited the project, and reflects on his visit:
“Visiting the Creative Minds project was an inspirational day. It was great to see so many young people who have been positively affected by the project and watch them perform. Some of these young people have been able to support major artists. It is clear the project isn’t just about the rap and music, but also about giving these young people purpose, direction and most importantly a community. The leader of the project said that it gives these young people somewhere to come when life gets tough as he’s had young people approach him about mental health issues and suicidal thoughts. This project is truly inspirational and reaches out to a community of young people that otherwise would be disconnected with a lack of opportuntity.”
To celebrate the young champions’ success, Youth Cymru organised a Showcase Event where the hubs had the opportunity to meet up again, give feedback to each other and most importantly, celebrate their achievements and have fun. Young people had the opportunity to take part in workshops and to help set up for the live performances that were happening all day on the Wales Millennium Centre Glanfa Stage with young people showcasing what they have worked on all year. This was a really good day to tell the public about the project and for friends and families to get involved with the project. Over the duration of the day, young people really managed to raise awareness about mental health and its importance in our every-day life.
The 2018 YAP Challenge Fund called for applications from organisations working with children and young people to help reduce stigma around mental health issues through arts projects. Creative Minds were awarded this fund, and have been working with young people since. Here’s what they think:
“By taking part in the Creative Minds Project, I have gained confidence within myself”
“These projects are all about bringing people together and making people feel comfortable in the community, and they do that in massive amounts”
“I’ve had experience of mental health issues and it can be the scariest time in your life. These events and things do help me…yeah, one hundred percent they do.”
- Find out more about Creative Minds here
- Find out more about the 2020 YAP Challenge Fund here
- Find out more about the YAP (Youth Advisory Panel) here