A unit supporting young people with a range of complex mental health needs is working with Everyman & Playhouse staff to boost self-esteem and confidence through arts.

Based in Waterloo, Liverpool, the Dewi Jones Unit is a child and adolescent inpatient mental health unit part of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. The Unit provides assessment and treatment, including therapeutic interventions and education, to 5-13 year olds with a range of complex mental health needs.

The Dewi Jones Unit and members of our Young Everyman Playhouse staff  have provided weekly arts sessions to young people in the unit as a key part of the pupils’ education. Starting in 2019 the project is part of Alder Hey’s ‘Arts For Health’ programme and YEP.

In weekly sessions, young people in the group devise their own artistic project, with the help of YEP director Matt Rutter, freelance theatre maker Grace Goulding and other YEP practitioners, allowing pupils to engage in their own way and channel their interests. Projects pupils have worked on include creative writing, design, music, film production and performing a nativity; with the primary aim of promoting recovery and re-engagement in education.

The pupils involved have enjoyed being able to express themselves in sessions. They said: “Being creative is fun and we’ve enjoyed coming up with ideas. Matt and Grace don’t say no to ideas and it’s funny doing things like the Nativity. We look forward to when Matt comes in – he brightens up our day. He makes Thursdays fun!”

Debra McConnell-Jones and Lindsey Worvell, the education team at the Dewi Jones Unit, have also seen a positive change in pupils. Debra said: “The impact of the project has been amazing. We have seen increased participation and engagement in pupils who have really struggled to access education and therapy in other circumstances.

“In these very challenging times the project has lifted the spirits of not only the children, but the staff as well. Laughter and creativity are the lynchpin of the whole project and there is a constant buzz and excitement on the unit when the children are involved in a project.”

It is hoped pupils will engage more with the theatres and YEP, as they reintegrate with education and begin to engage in social activities outside of the Dewi Jones Unit.

Matt Rutter, Young Everyman Playhouse director, said: “The young people are incredible and have been so creative and focused all the time. They always surprise us with the imagination and humour they bring to the creative process. It’s a joy working with the young people and the unbelievably committed staff.”

As well as YEP working with pupils in the Dewi Jones Unity, visits to the Everyman before covid restrictions allowed pupils to learn more about staging, lighting and costume design, and script reading with YEP actors. When it safe to do so pupils will once again visit the theatre to continue to help build confidence and self-esteem.

Pupils have shown interest in joining YEP following discharge, with the education team and YEP practitioners working on bespoke transition packages to help pupils reintegrate through activities they are interested in.

Visit the Everyman & Playhouse website to find out more about Young Everyman Playhouse. Alder Hey Children’s Hospital have more information on the work of the Dewi Jones Unit.

1-7 February 2021 is Children’s Mental Health Week. The theme this year is ‘Express Yourself’ and is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity.