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 Education & Outreach Activities

Sefton Arts Development, in targeting local schools and community-based organisations,  has been facilitating a number of arts projects for children and young people. At Community centres, primary and high schools, valuable links have been forged between schools, community groups and local people in general, unearthing resources, matching activities with aspirations and serving to stimulate a greater awareness of where the arts can serve to meet the very widest range of interests and issues. Arts Development has recently appointed a 'Creative Partnerships' Manager for Sefton with a three year remit to bring approaches to creative learning into Sefton's schools. This post, funded jointly by Sefton MBC, Creative Partnerships and the Social Inclusion Unit, will target both mainstream children and those at risk of exclusion in an innovative programme of imaginative and challenging initiatives both within schools and at outreach venues.

Arts Inclusion

Making the arts an integral part of the Children's Fund(ed) services in Sefton was the task of the newly appointed Arts Inclusion Officer this spring/summer. Operating as part of Arts Development, the officer's role has been to create a programme of creative activities for children and young people considered to be at risk of social exclusion. Designed to develop the self expression, confidence and social skills of vulnerable children, the summer projects have included mural painting, arts and craft sessions, theatre visits, play schemes and drama at centres and care homes in Sefton.

Arts & Health

Working in close collaboration with the Sefton Health Improvement Support Service, Sefton Arts Development  has recently engaged arts consultant Jessica Bockler to plan and manage a range of arts projects aimed at raising awareness of healthy lifestyle issues in South Sefton. Following an initial audit of current arts and health practice Jessica, building on her extensive contacts with local community organisations, has initiated projects which address the issues of mental wellbeing through the use of drama, video, visual and digital arts and photography. All projects are led by experienced artists and are closely monitored in order to establish the issue-raising effectiveness of arts activity and its impact on participants health and wellbeing. On conclusion of project work, Jessica will provide a comprehensive evaluation report which will point the way to a longer-term commitment  by Sefton to the arts and health agenda.

Invest To Save

Sefton has recently been awarded three years of funding to initiate a programme which uses creative activity as a substitute for medication for those suffering from mild to moderate depression, stress or anxiety. The 'Creative Alternatives' programme will, through its two referral and arts project officers, offer individually tailored schedules of arts project work within domestic and community settings for a period of up to ten weeks, after which each client will be supported in their integration within Sefton's mainstream arts programme. Each clients progress through the scheme will be carefully monitored to ensure the quality and appropriateness of the project work, all of which will be delivered by issue sensitive professional art-form specialists.

Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP)

Funded by Connexions and, in partnership with Active Communities, Arts Development has been responsible for injecting arts activities into a number of youth and community centres around Sefton. More than 70 music, drama and arts and craft sessions, led by a team of practitioners, are delivered into a dozen venues during half-term throughout the year.