Free CPD event for creatives and outdoor educators

Supporting Young Minds is a programme 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. Five Artswork ‘Supporting Young Minds’ projects are happening across the South of England, including the Isle of Wight’s project which 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.

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.

As part of the Isle of Wight Supporting Young Minds project, we are offering a half-day online CPD session to better equip local artist facilitators, outdoor educators and cultural education practitioners to work in ways that promote good mental health and wellbeing for children and young people.

Facilitated by Artswork with input from Isle of Wight Youth Trust.

By taking part you can:

  • Learn from the experts at Isle of Wight Youth Trust about the current mental health needs of children and young people on the Isle of Wight
  • Reflect on your own practice to date
  • Explore models of good practice that can be used in the planning, delivery and evaluation of wellbeing activities for children and young people
  • Understand the difference between creative therapeutic interventions conducted by trained professionals (e.g. therapists, counsellors) and creative activities that are facilitated by someone who’s not a trained counsellor or therapist
  • Hear recommendations from mental health professionals on safe and effective working with young people who may experience poor mental health due to their circumstances

All participants will be provided with a comprehensive learning resource that they can refer to and use after the training.

Content will include:

  • Why is good mental wellbeing important
  • The mental health continuum
  • Impacts on well-being
  • What does well-being look like?: using personas
  • What is Creativity?
  • What are the benefits of creative approaches?
  • Creativity and divergent thinking
  • Two models of wellbeing
  • How can creative activity support these models?
  • Exploring your own practice and motivations
  • Communication theories
  • Developing engagement
  • Risk assessing your activities
  • Measuring impact

Before the workshop, there will be a small amount of preparation, helping you to reflect on your practice to date. At workshop, a combination of presentations and activities will help you to build your knowledge and skills.

This event is designed for Isle of Wight based artist facilitators, outdoor educators and cultural education practitioners. A small number of places are available for off-island practitioners – select ticket type ‘off island’ when booking. Artswork reserves the right to cancel ineligible bookings.

In early 2023, Isle of Wight Supporting Young Minds will be running CPD event for mental health and youth professionals, focusing on the role of creative approaches in promoting children’s and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. If you are a mental health or youth worker and would be interested in taking part please register your interest by email to [email protected] putting ‘Supporting Young Minds CPD’ in the subject field

Five Supporting Young Minds projects are taking place across the South East, find out more about them here: https://artswork.org.uk/our-work-with-arts-and-cultural-organisations/supporting-young-minds/

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