It's 9.30am on a Wednesday morning and voices can be heard from the café at The Point where a group of young people and adults tuck into breakfast. This is not just a social gathering but a core part of darts' work with pupils from Jasp.

These young people, who have mental health issues that prevent them from attending mainstream school, attend a weekly session led by an artist and supported by a Youth Participation Coordinator. Every session begins with breakfast and a chat, something that young people can find hard to take part in at first, but for Lead Artist Hayley Beecher it is as important as the creative activity that follows. "I want to create a culture of discussion and make sure the group are at ease with answering and even questioning each other."

Following breakfast, the group work with a variety of artists and artforms towards their Bronze Arts Award qualification. This provides a focus that underpins all the work. The level of reflection on skills learnt necessitated by the Arts Award is extended by Hayley so that the arts become a vehicle through which young people are encouraged to examine their ideas and attitudes.