Art in the House is a creative session for 14-19 year olds which uses the arts to engage young people to explore issues relevant to them such as drinking, and drugs and use the experience to create their own pieces of artwork.
Working with visual artist Kate Sully and Youth Participation Co-ordinator Anne Turner the group first met in November 2009 and have met regularly each week to create artwork inspired by the topics they have discussed.
Kate explains more: "Art is a great way of opening discussion with young people about the issues that affect their lives – especially when you are trying to engage with hard to reach groups. For example the group worked together to decorate two giant bottles – one looking at the positives, the other at negatives issues relating to alcohol.
"By opening up the topic and discussing all the issues it gives young people the space to learn the facts and then make an informed decision whilst also enjoying the creative activity."
The group's hard work was acknowledged by NHS Doncaster who presented each member of the group with a 'Reduce The Risk' certificate which recognises that each member of the group have done more than 15 hours of issue based work around alcohol.
Most of the young people taking part in the Art in The House project are looked after children. Children and young people in the care of Local Authorities are one of the most vulnerable in society.
At any one time around 60,000 children are looked after in England, although some 90,000 pass through the care system in any year.*
darts has been working in partnership with Doncaster Alcohol Services (DAS) and Better Deal to provide positive activities. The project is funded by Positive Futures.
The funding for this project has now ended and darts is searching for partners to help continue this work and engage looked after children in positive activities with positive outcomes.
* Source: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk