Arts Council NI: Young People & Wellbeing Arts Programme

Overview

The Young People & Wellbeing Arts Programme has been developed by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Please note: Whilst they recognise that the term ‘youth’ is a more fluid category than a fixed age-group the programme is aimed at young people between the ages of 12 and 18 years.

Aims & Objectives

The programme aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people by engagement in high quality arts.

Objectives

To deliver projects that help young people:

• To appreciate the positive contribution that involvement in arts projects can have on well-being
• To have increased awareness of the importance of good mental health and techniques to cultivate it
• To have increased arts-based knowledge and skills

Projects should aim to include young people experiencing higher levels of disadvantage or exclusion and may include more vulnerable groups such as those living with a mental health condition, eating disorders or addiction.

Strategic Impact

You should indicate how your project links to each of the objectives and delivers on some of the short-term outcomes. You do not have to deliver on all the short-term outcomes.

1. Have increased wellbeing from participation
2. Have increased willingness to express opinions or feelings
3. Feel less isolated/lonely
4. Have increased awareness of the importance of good mental health
5. Have learnt techniques to support good mental health
6. Have improved knowledge about sources of help for mental health problems
7. Have increased awareness that it’s ok to ask for help
8. Have increased skills in a range of artistic art forms

They are Looking for Projects which:

Have been developed through consultation with young people;

• enable participants to shape the activity and be involved as decision makers
• demonstrate a clear vision underpinned by in-depth understanding of the current issues impacting on young people and wellbeing.
• are based upon a partnership approach;
• build on and do not duplicate existing provision and have a strong strategic fit with other activity at a local and regional level

Support best practice in working with young people through creative activities;

• prioritise excellence – in both the art and the approach to creative engagement; including working with artists or arts organisations with a proven track record in this area
• challenge artists, arts organisations and arts providers to develop new, imaginative or more effective ways of meeting the strategic themes of the programme
• demonstrate a ‘person-centered’ approach that safeguards vulnerable individuals, takes into account equality and is sensitive, respectful of and empowering for all involved.

Consider legacy and sustainability;

• develop on-going programmes across the widest possible range of quality arts activity that strive to be sustainable in the long-term and/or replicable by others.
• demonstrate a lasting legacy e.g. links to training and developmental opportunities, capacity building and improved community cohesion.

Consider scale of impact;

• have scale of impact, whilst adapting to and meet local needs.

Consider advocacy;

• projects consider fully the public profile of a project and cost accordingly

Who can apply?

The programme is aimed at constituted community and voluntary groups who are working at a local level to support young people and can demonstrate strong partnership working with relevant groups working with young people.

This programme is also open to non-governmental organisations, Local Authorities and arts organisations who can clearly demonstrate partnership working.

They are looking for partnership or consortia based projects. Partnerships can be led by either youth sector providers, arts organisations or Local Authorities, however the consortium must be made up of appropriate representatives and demonstrate a commitment to working together. Other specialists who work with young people may also be included as named partners in the consortium.

How much can you apply for?

Grants up to £10,000 are available.

You can apply for up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project. Projects can be up to 1 year duration.

What you can apply for

(These are examples only)

• Projects and events
• Commissions and productions
• Artists’ fees up to £35 per hour or a maximum of £150 per day for workshop-based activity.
• Artists’/volunteers’/essential administrative travel expenses within Northern Ireland at 25.7p per mile
• Venue hire for workshops
• Transportation costs
• Excursions where relevant to the programme of activities
• Materials/equipment
• Equipment hire
• Publicity and marketing costs
• Co-ordination costs (Which are not already part of an existing salary)
• Premium payment costs – any additional costs you are likely to incur through the involvement of Section 75 groups, e.g. carers costs, visual aids (e.g. Braille), sign language and hearing assistance.