Creative Wellbeing

Creativity matters. It’s good for us personally, socially and culturally. This project, creativity for wellbeing, looks at the value of art abd literature for our wellbeing, in all its facets. It has the ability to change lives, enhance communities, and bring about health, social and personal benefits. We have seen its value and want to offer this to others.

The aim of the youth exchange Creative Wellbeing is to address personal and social needs covering health and wellbeing, creativity, education and training for the youth involved. For a society to flourish the individuals within it need to be healthy. Mind my Mind will be a creative course involving creative writing and arts and crafts that results in participants creating an illustrated book of their journey and exploration.

Participants will
• Enhance their knowledge of the history and culture of the local area through the work of local artists. This includes famous artists from history and current local practictioners.
• Visit historical sites and be invited to create their own version of events, in order to look at how culture shapes our interpretation of the world and its events.
• Learn how to journal for their own wellbeing
• Take part in creative workshops and produce work.

We will use the Warwick-Edinburgh Wellbeing Scale to assess levels of wellbeing at the start and end of the project, in order to measure its impact. They will leave with an enhanced appreciation of the holistic value of creativity. Throughout the project they will be encouraged to keep a journal as a document of their work. Work produced in workshops will also form part of a small magazine to be published in print and online, as a tangible example of the project.

They will be able to use the techniques learned in everyday life and will have an enhanced ability to deal with stresses and difficulties, thus be more resilient. Resilience is deemed to be one of the key factors in flourishing communities. The aim is for all young people to have a greater appreciation of the value of arts and creativity for their wellbeing, and be able to utilize the skills they have learned to support themselves and others.

We see Creative Wellbeing as a creative way to address personal and social affairs through the route of cultural expression and wellbeing. It addresses four main areas
1. Culture and creativity
2. Health and wellbeing
3. Education
4. Equality of opportunity