Between October 2023 – March 2024, we worked with two groups of young people in Ashington to deliver creative activities using nature-based themes and source material to explore their thoughts, ideas, feelings, and experiences of nature in their area and in their lives as young people. This creative intervention project was made possible thanks to the generous support of Natural England.

“This project is a great example of two different organisations inspiring one another’s work, working together with a shared objective of supporting children and young people whilst seeking to understand their lived experience.  Through the process, a high quality, inclusive project unfolded with creative outputs showcasing young people’s voices and experiences. This Natural England funded project was also a testament to the power of creativity as a tool to draw out insights and contributions from young people, who may not normally share their thoughts.”

​– Helen Ferguson, Mortal Fools Creative Producer

During this project we collaborated with young people to explore and discover:
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• What they experience outdoors, and what they’d like to do more of.
• How they currently experience/spend time in nature (or not).
• Common interests/ideas about these themes that could inform policy.
• Why spending time in nature could be beneficial and how to encourage young people to do more of it.

 
Project Outcomes for the young people demonstrated across this Natural England funded project:

• New skills in using the arts to explore their ideas and opinions and finding ways to express themselves.
• Increased confidence in everyday activities such as going outside, trying new things, engaging in hobbies and attending school.
• Developing trusted relationships with other young people and adults.
• Increased levels of achievement and feeling like they matter and are listened to.
• A better understanding of their local area and what’s on offer to them outdoors/in nature.
• Improved mental health & wellbeing because of these outcomes.

“We are delighted to have been working with Mortal Fools on this project. Once again, we see how nature-based activities are a powerful force for improving physical and mental wellbeing, and for building confidence. We will continue doing everything we can to make the natural world more accessible for all.”

- Christine Venus, Natural England’s Deputy Director for Northumbria

We worked with 24 young people across this project. Creative activities such as drama exercises, collage & zine making, creative writing, and sound design, were used to explore ideas and interests whilst contributing to enhancing wellbeing and confidence through this creative intervention. Participants made nature-based collages, imaginary maps, zines, and four soundscapes expressing their experiences of real and fantasy outdoors spaces using exploration of the actual outdoors to record foley based sound effects.

The project had two strands in different settings:

Creative Mondays Youth Sessions at YMCA Northumberland across Autumn 2023

We delivered light touch, freeform activity at our YMCA Northumberland, Ashington ‘Creative Mondays’ youth sessions to a group of 9 young people. These free, bookable, open access sessions are intended to help young people engage in productive arts and youth activities in an accessible youth work setting and to support their wellbeing and self-expression. ​

​Creative Intervention at Duke’s Secondary School across Spring 2024

​We delivered a creative intervention at Duke’s Secondary School, Ashington with a group of 13 young people with intersectional needs (e.g. neurodivergence, social emotional & mental health, family circumstances) referred for support with wellbeing and skills. Young people participated in a structured 12-week programme and achieved an Explore Arts Award qualification.

“Our students have thrived during this project, the natural beauty of our surroundings have been brought into the classroom and enabled the students to connect learning and our local natural spaces. Students have thoroughly enjoyed working with Mortal Fools Practitioners and with their expert guidance and support from Natural England they have been able to create a piece of work to be proud of!”

​- Natalie Cain Head of Alternative Provision, NCEA Duke's Secondary School

The project theme was nature-based (a new theme for Mortal Fools!) and included an outdoor creative session, working with artists and the creation of audio theatre pieces.
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At the end of our creative intervention at Dukes Secondary School, we hosted a creative showcase, inviting teachers, youth workers, friends of participants and Natural England to come and see what they’d been working on, hear some spoken word poetry and experience the four performative audio pieces using silent disco headphones. They even got the chance to take part in a drama game or two! 
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“The sound installations took me back to my childhood and the positive elements came out; feeling reminded of being carefree, being able to live in the moment and reminded of the therapeutic beauty of nature and the environment. The sharing event was professional, heartfelt and true to the roots of the North East.”

​- Gem Kilbride, Natural England Health and Environment Lead Adviser North East

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Our evaluation and monitoring data showed that the children who participated in the project were impacted in the following ways:
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• ​Increased confidence and feeling valued and listened to.
• Improved friendships, social interaction, and trust with others.
• Better self-management of emotions and emotional regulation.
• Ability to speak in front of people and express their ideas.
• Opportunities to talk to people about their interests.
• Gaining new creative experiences to help them express themselves
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“Combining nature and outdoor themed activities with Mortal Fools creative devising process meant that the young people participating in this project experienced a range of participatory creative experiences and felt empowered to express their thoughts and lived experienced in a range of creative ways.

Through the project, we learnt a lot about the young people’s lives, the things they care about and what is special to them about their local area; these are insights we wouldn’t have had without this project.

It’s been a pleasure to work with the team at Natural England and after seeing the benefits of integrating the outdoors into our work supporting children and young people with intersectional needs, we are looking forward to doing more!”

​ - Helen Ferguson, Mortal Fools Creative Producer

For more information about this project or our Creative Intervention work in school and youth settings, drop us an email via: [email protected]
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