Vulnerable young people in Hampshire given craft support boxes
Vulnerable young people across Hampshire have been diving into the world of arts and crafts to boost their mental health this summer.
Hundreds of support boxes have been handed out to youngsters between the ages of 10 and 16, containing activities and craft materials delivered straight to their doors.
The boxes are put together by Hampshire Cultural Trust, which received an award of £25,000 from international diagnostics group, Novacyt.
Cat Cooke, community programmes manager at Hampshire Cultural Trust, said: ‘It has been so valuable to be able to work with partners across Hampshire for over a year now to support young people who have been so negatively impacted by the pandemic.
‘Receiving a beautiful creative box and the opportunity this brings for young people to come together using creativity can now continue to have positive impact.’
The boxes have been given out to young carers, those with special educational needs, those that have been fostered or who are in foster care and those who are at risk to themselves or others.
It is hoped that these young people will be using art as a positive, creative activity, providing an outlet to tackle low self-esteem, build confidence and improve wellbeing and emotional resilience.
The inspiration for the project came about last year, after the trust received a grant from the Youth Endowment Fund.
Since then, more than 150 boxes have been delivered to young people all over Hampshire, who were referred by the county’s children’s services, youth offending teams and youth partners.
A spokesman from the Novacyt charity committee steering group said: ‘We are incredibly proud to be in a position to make this donation and hope it will go some way to support the trust’s future plans’.
The delivery of these boxes also serves a second purpose, according to Hampshire Cultural Trust.
By getting the boxes out to young people across the county, the delivery acts as a ‘way in’ to signpost them to services that can further support them and address their respective needs.
Hampshire Cultural Trust looks after 23 arts and museums attractions across the county.
The attractions were previously managed by Hampshire County Council.