Epic Arts

EPIC Arts is a programme of weekly arts based sessions with young people identified to be at risk of, or experiencing self harm and mental ill health. The young people are offered a range of art forms (such as drama, music, creative writing, puppetry, digital images, drawing, photography, film making) to explore what emotional wellbeing means to them, how they can access support and recognise in themselves a need to ask for help. The programme culminates in the production of a tool for advocating ways young people can find and ask for support and de-stigmatising mental ill health.

The participants are facilitated by a state registered Drama therapist who has received training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to explore issues of emotional health and wellbeing including but not limited to; building confidence, making time to talk about how they feel with friends and trusted adults, expressing themselves creatively and the value of relaxation

The programme will run in partnership with the MAT staff , CAMHS, sports groups and school nurses/pastoral teams to identify young people most in need of this early intervention. It works with a mixed gender group of young people aged between 11 and 16.

EPIC Primary

EPIC Primary is a project using drama and combined arts to engage vulnerable young people aged 8 – 11 yr olds. Working in small groups, this project is focussed on emotional health and wellbeing and uses a combined arts approach with drama as the main art form.

The focus is on mental health and well being: building confidence, eating well, getting enough sleep, making time to talk about how they feel with friends and trusted adults, expressing themselves creatively and the value of relaxation.

We gather feedback and evaluation material throughout the project from participants and staff to gather evidence of the impact of the project.