PROJECT
Create Project
PURPOSE
To improve confidence, self-esteem, social and life skills among eight- to 17-year-olds with learning disabilities
FUNDING
Running costs of £9,640 per year, from donations, fundraising, weekly contributions from parents, and grants from Jane Tomlinson Appeal, David Solomons Charitable Trust and The Sobell Foundation
BACKGROUND
Research suggests more than a third of children and young people with a learning disability have a mental health problem and many find it harder than average to make friends.
In 2013, Kirklees children's mental health charity Northorpe Child and Family Trust secured funding from Lloyds TSB for a creative arts project for young people with learning disabilities to provide them with a safe space to form friendships, express themselves and tap into support.
ACTION
Parents and professionals can refer young people with mild to moderate learning disabilities, who either attend a special school or are supported in mainstream school through an education and health care plan.
Create supports 27 young people in two age groups: eight to 12 and 13 to 17, meeting for consecutive 1.5-hour sessions one evening a week. Each session opens with a "working together" agreement participants have helped write, setting out ground rules such as respecting each other. Each attendee holds up an emotions card, rating their week and how they feel, enabling staff to identify any support needs.
This is followed by 40 minutes of creative arts or a teamwork activity, which include drama, singing, sculpture, breadmaking and first aid training. The sessions are evaluated with thumbs-up or thumbs-down cards.
Staff can refer young people or their families to support services, or work closely with schools where needed.
Project leader Jade Taylor says bullying can be a significant issue in participants' lives and Create provides them with a safe environment to discuss it and offer each other advice. "They talk openly about bullying and a lot about their feelings, and really support each other," she says.
OUTCOME
Of 14 participants attending a feedback session in July, eight rated the project 10 out of 10, two awarded it nine, two gave it eight and one seven, saying it had made them happier and enabled them to make new friends. Meanwhile, 11 out of 15 parents awarded the project 10 out of 10, and 14 out of 15 said it had improved their child's wellbeing.
