CREATIVE:TANDEM

“I have BECOME MORE SOCIAL AND HAPPY WHILST DOING THE WORKSHOPS.”
participant

THE PROJECT

creative:tandem is our multi-artform programme empowering children and young people who have been admitted to mental health units due to serious conditions including psychotic, depressive, anxiety and eating disorders, self-harm or suicidal thinking.

Since 2017, we have been delivering five day creative “residencies” at Snowsfields Adolescent Unit at Maudsley Hospital in the London Borough of Southwark. 2021 saw the project’s launch at Bethlem Adolescent Unit and Aquarius Ward, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust in the London Boroughs of Bromley and Wandsworth respectively.

“THE PROJECT HAS HELPED YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL IMPORTANT, GROW IN confidence and find new ways to express themselves in a positive way, decreasing negative coping strategies. it has supported our therapeutic programme.”
Dionne monarch, senior occupational therapist at snowfields adolescent unit

During these “residencies”, our professional artists deliver daily workshops that use creativity to help young patients develop their artwork, social skills, self-expression and self-esteem. This provides these vulnerable young people with an emotional outlet and promotes positive coping strategies, building self-esteem, reducing loneliness and nurturing wellbeing.

THE NEED

Research shows that the rates of depression among young people in the UK have soared in the past 25 years, increasing by 70%.

The Children’s Society found that in the last three years, the likelihood of young people having a mental health problem has increased by 50%. Now, five children in a classroom of 30 are likely to have a mental health problem. A majority of 75% of these young people struggling with mental health problems are not getting the help they need.