CREATIVE:TOGETHER

“This group has been the best part of my week. I’m really struggling at the moment and being here has helped.”
participant

The project

We designed creative:together with METRO Charity, which works with young people experiencing issues related to gender, sexuality, diversity or identity, providing health, community and youth services across London and the South East.

“It is important for them to meet other people like them, as they rarely see themselves represented, and to have role models, particularly people who are successful creatives.”
community partner

creative:together, run by our professional artists, gives LGBTQ+ young people the opportunity to learn new skills and explore their creativity in high-quality creative arts workshops designed to encourage self-expression. They also provide a safe space for participants to share with and support one another whilst creating artwork they can be proud of, improving their communication skills, self-confidence and overall wellbeing.

The projects culminate in final a performance or exhibition, giving they young people the chance to showcase and celebrate their work and boosting their self-esteem in the process.

The Need

People who identify as LGBTQ+ have higher rates of common mental health problems and lower wellbeing than heterosexual people (Semlyen et al., 2016).

“THIS EXPERIENCE WAS BRILLIANT AND IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH.”
PARTICIPANT

LGBT+ young people’s charity Just Like Us found that over half (55%) of LGBT+ young people worry about their mental health daily, compared to just a quarter (26%) of non-LGBT+ young people. In addition, they are twice as likely as their non-LGBT peers (52% vs 27%) to have felt lonely and separated from the people they are closest to on a daily basis during lockdown.