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ARTISTS SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH PROJECTS
FOR VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE
A national emergency appeal to raise £100,000 for national and
local charities has been launched. The #CreateArt4Hope appeal is
supporting The Hive Wirral Youth Zone, who as part of their work
supports young people experiencing mental health issues, and
Mind. Every donor will receive a thank-you gift of art from leading
British artists.
Through targeted youth work and an extensive sports, arts and
music offer, The Hive, based in Birkenhead, has raised aspirations,
improved health and well-being, enhanced prospects and increased
the confidence, self-esteem and well-being of local young people. It
currently has over 3000 members and, in normal circumstances, is
open every day of the year for all young people between the ages of
8-19 (8-12 Junior and 13-19 Senior) or up to age 25 for those with a
disability.
At the end of March, when COVID-19 restrictions came into place,
the Youth Zone closed its doors and began a programme of virtual
youth work to reach its members, who had overnight become isolated
at home. This daily schedule delivered by Youth Workers engages
young people with a huge range of online activities including tutorials,
how-to videos, art classes, cooking lessons and sports challenges. The
team have also been supporting those in need with one-to-one calls
home, online mentoring meetings and delivery of food hampers and
art supply boxes. Through this digital youth work the team at The Hive
have seen first-hand the marked increase of mental health concerns
amongst those they are supporting. Some of these young people are
amongst the most vulnerable in society who face incredible challenges;
they live in homes with domestic violence, have pre-existing mental
health issues, have a history or experience of self-harm, are involved
with social services, and for some their home where they are now
isolated is not a safe place.
The National Youth Association recently said “Over a million young
people have self-reported mental health issues. There is a spike in calls
to Helplines, with 84% reporting worse mental health following school
closures or being no longer able to access mental health support”.
The #CreateArt4Hope’ appeal organised by The Visual Artists
Association, will help the charity in delivering vital services for young
people in response to this mental health crisis. Everyone who donates to
the appeal no matter how small will receive a curated collection of four
A3 size limited edition prints worth hundreds of pounds generously
gifted by four award-winning artists’ including international sculptor
Emma Rodgers; London based illustrator’ Carne Griffiths; Scottish
fine landscape artist, Michael Batey; and contemporary animal painter,
Tammy Walters.
Laura O’Hare, Director of the Appeal commented, “It is a mental health
emergency and artists want to support the nation in the effort to fight
this pandemic. The #CreateArt4Hope appeal makes art accessible to all,
given the financial hardship some are facing. The gifted artwork worth
hundreds of pounds is an inspiring and rare collection symbolising
hope and peace”.
Stuart Barnes, Chief Executive of The Hive Youth Zone said "Mental
health is one the biggest issues we encounter at The Hive. Some of our
young people are amongst the most vulnerable in society who face
incredible challenges, never more so than now. For many their home
where they are now isolated is not a safe place. Donations received
through the Create Art 4 Hope appeal will enable us to do even more
to support the mental health of our young people. We need to make
sure we are able to not only monitor known mental health issues which
may be increasing under the lock down restrictions, but also identify
concerns at an early stage to avoid escalation”.
Speaking about the appeal, award-winning artist Emma Rodgers
commented; “When I heard about this project, I wanted to help the
cause and show support to those who are finding things particularly
difficult in these current times, as it is so important to look after our
mental health as well as physical health. I felt compelled to create this
artwork and specifically to raise much needed funds for The Hive and
Mind. ‘Rise Up - The Dove, a symbol of peace and hope seemed the
perfect subject, as it lifts in flight, the traces of its wing movements are
created by clapping hands, lifting the Dove, and indeed our hope in
together overcoming Covid-19.’’
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