“I can’t stop smiling… I loved singing that.”
Nestled within the industrial Hat Works building, in the centre of Stockport, Manchester, is Arc (Arts for Recovery in the Community). Their aims are to create an energetic centre so that the community can not only enjoy arts and heritage in the area, but to actively take part in it.
The Hat Museum is a heritage site owned by Stockport Council dedicated to its rich history of hat-making. You can even take a tour of the factory floor to learn about the hat trade and get inspired by the array of colours there! It’s a really interesting building, and there’s lots going on.
Meanwhile, Arts for Recovery in the Community, or simply Arc, is the leading arts and mental health charity based in Stockport. It provides opportunities for people to learn new skills, connect with each other and celebrate their creativity. They have over 25 years’ experience of producing transformational arts projects which engage and include marginalised groups. Thus they actively promote wellbeing and recovery from mental ill-health, reaching thousands of people across the North West and beyond. They offer a wide range of Wellbeing Programmes alike, including ‘Arts for Wellbeing’, and ‘Men’s Music for Wellbeing’.
As part of their projects, they have a young people’s service called, simply enough, Young People’s Arc (YPA). This supports over 100 children/young people facing extreme life, family and mental health challenges each year. These could include parents given a cancer diagnosis, caring responsibilities, bullying, neurodiversity and acute anxiety.
YPA gives young people a life-changing creative opportunity. It consists of their MusicSpace programme and Shine, their arts studio project in partnership with Beacon Counselling, and a range of partnerships and commissions with agencies across Stockport, Tameside and Oldham.
Shine, provides a safe space for young people aged 11–17 to express themselves freely, without criticism. Over a 12 week period, they attend sessions to develop their visual arts skills and create their own artwork. This in turn, gives a sense of connectivity and pride, boosting their confidence, and positively impacting their mental wellbeing. Plus the children love it and think it’s fun!
Sessions take place on Wednesdays 16:30–18:30 at Hat Works. For more information or to make a referral please contact Beacon Counselling.
"This is the highlight of my week!"
We all know the benefits music and singing can have on us. MusicSpace is a participatory music for wellbeing programme for young people aged 11-16 which is funded by Youth Music. Sessions use songwriting and music making to help young people to connect with others.
Project Manager Tom Leah said, “At the core is a welcoming and inclusive space. Creating and sharing music is a relaxed and really fun way to build confidence and boost wellbeing. It’s about inspiring a bit of social confidence in each other and having a good impact on each other’s mental health.”
They also have fun creating art, such as making their own album covers, recycled vinyl art and other creations inspired by the music they make together. As well as being led by professional musicians, YPA has a Wellbeing Support worker who meets each young person before they join and is present at the sessions, to help any participant who is struggling, helping them get the most out of the programme.
Quotes from attendees have been really positive:
“It was all the new experiences, properly doing music, like properly producing it. I've always dreamed of doing something like that but never thought I'd get an opportunity like that.”
“It's made me more confident in speaking and music.”
Throughout 2024, Tom has been making YPA more appealing and accessible by working closely with agencies and services such as Glossop MIND and Proud Trust, and specialists like Rachel Jepson. Tom continues, “We’ve got a really simple referral process and the next programme starts in February so we’d really love to see new people.”
Feedback from parents and carers has been equally positive: “It’s changed how she is at home, everything's less of a struggle. Usually she won't go anywhere but she's reminding us it's music night.”
“I felt really bad leaving her at first because she was a rabbit in headlights when we first got here, but when she came out of the first session she got in the car and said “Mum I absolutely love it, it's really fun and easy and I'm in a band…… We don't have a name yet but I'm in a band!”
Arc’s Chief Executive, Jacqui Wood commented: “Our aim is to provide a rich programme of creative activities which helps them make friends and connect with others, and supports their self esteem, confidence, and overall mental health. Through our uniquely creative and positive approach, they connect to each other as a group of young people rather than as outsiders.”
In 2023/24, Arc’s monitoring and evaluation process stated that: ‘83% of young people reported or showed an increase in positive relationships with others, saying that attending had helped them make friends & learn how to talk to others…
84% of young people taking part reported or showed an improvement in their mental health’.
Away from the statistics, services like these are vital and absolutely no musical experience is necessary, just a willingness to have a go, make some sounds, and have some fun!
“It’s helped me feel more confident because the people here really make this feel like a safe space.”
The next block of weekly sessions starts in February 2025. Parents, guardians, health professionals and anyone working with young people can make a referral online
