Arts in schools

The crucial role of creativity and personal development is evidenced in many recent reports, including Young People’s Cultural Journeys, Arts Connect (June 2018). This emphasises the role that the creative arts play in the emotional, aspirational, economic and educational development of children.

We witness the transformative nature of creativity; it has tremendous power and impact on learning, well-being, attainment and sense of self within young people. We see this in the leadership programmes that we deliver in schools across the region. Performance, spoken word, textile and digital arts are vehicles for young people to express themselves, harness their aspirations and present themselves to the world. Read about how arts were used at Westminster School’s leadership programme here.

How we can work with you

We offer uniquely designed leadership training courses for young people. These are matched to the values and PHSE priorities of the school, and reflect the individual interests, skills and needs of each participant. Courses include: communication and presentation skills, creativity, problem-solving, and an appreciation of different perspectives.
We identify potential young leaders and mentors from within the school community who may coproduce the leadership programme. This may form part of a Duke of Edinburgh or Arts Award submission.
We use community connecting to actively link young people to their wider community.
We run bespoke poetry slams in schools, which raise awareness of topics such as mental health and provide a fresh approach to skills such as creative writing.

Other things you may be interested in

Leadership development in schools

Community Connecting

Poetry books from our work in schools

Latest

Professor Rosie Harding

Rosie is Professor of Law and Society at the University of Birmingham. Her academic work focuses on human rights, disability, capacity, and intimate and caring relationships. She is a passionate advocate of the difference that a human rights approach can make to disabled people’s everyday lives.
Straight up: postural care and quality of life in children with learning disabilities
Leadership development in schools

Feedback from a school following a leadership development programme that we ran with young people with the label of SEND.
Rights based advocacy

Feedback from a family member of an individual in institutionalised care, who we are providing rights based advocacy for.

Who we are

Changing Our Lives is a rights-based organisation. We work alongside disabled people and people experiencing mental health difficulties, of all ages, as equal partners to find solutions to social injustice and health inequalities.
National Postural Care Strategy

We all need to look after our posture. For some of us it's as simple as sitting up correctly at our computer. But for those of us who struggle to move our own bodies, for example if we have a complex disability, looking after our posture is even more important. If we don’t look after our posture, this can lead to debilitating health complications.
Mental Health People's Parliament

The People’s Parliament is a strategic body led by MPs with recent lived experience of mental health difficulties. Its function is to hold decision makers to account for improvements in services and supports so that people who experience mental health difficulties can have an improved quality of life and be in greater control of their own mental wellbeing. The Parliament is located in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, just outside of Birmingham.
Where we work
What makes us unique
Safe Places

The Safe Places scheme is based on the belief that everyone has the right to feel confident and safe going out in their local community. Lots of people feel unsafe at times in the local area; this might be because they have experienced crime or because they simply feel unsafe. For disabled people, older people and others who feel vulnerable this often means they don’t go out at all. The Safe Places scheme enables people to feel more confident, access their local areas more and know what to do.
Beth's New Life

Beth left school at the age of 19 with no robust plans in place. Her mum was very concerned about what the future held for Beth.
Best practice
Katy's Story

Katy explains how a Direct Payment has enabled her to take control of her life.
Annual Programme

Our specialised team combines extensive experience, highly skilled and tenacious, professionals that are known for an innovative and outcomes based approach to practice and delivery.