Creative support programmes for young carers in West Wales.
Amethyst extended creative support programmes to young carers in West Wales in May - June 2022, thanks to the Carers Support Innovation Fund.
The Amethyst team was joined by Syrcas Byd Bychan (Small World Theatre’s aerial school) to add aerial circus and aerial yoga sessions for young carers in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. These young people benefited from exciting, fun experiences that built confidence as well as fitness levels.
2022
Peer Support Programmes in Schools.
Amethyst worked with 6th formers in Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi, Ceredigion to train them in peer support.
The training was informed by, and designed in collaboration with the pupils who have been learning how to listen to and support younger pupils safely. The programme benefitted the 6th formers through self-development, as well as supporting younger pupils. We hope to work with more schools in this way in the future.
2022
Legislative theatre and discussion.
A new piece of legislative theatre and discussion led by parents of young people with mental health issues.
Amethyst was awarded funding by Carer Support Innovation Fund to produce a piece of Legislative Theatre with parents and guardians of young people with mental health issues across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. We worked with the group to support them and develop their personal experiences into an online performance.
Legislative Theatre is part of Theatre for the Oppressed developed by Augusto Boal as a democratic technique to explore legislation. Small World Theatre used this technique to explore legislation and systematic rules around the mental health systems operating in West Wales from the parents/ guardians’ personal experiences.
We invited an audience of policy makers, care professionals and those with an interest in the system to an online performance 18 March 2022. The performance was followed by breakout sessions where participants had the opportunity to comment on the issues raised in the theatre and share their ideas to build a better system.
2022
Film documentary project during lockdown.
Film documentary project during lockdown. This project began in 2021 with the aim to improve mental heath in schools.
Small World Theatre’s project Amethyst launched a series of short films with the support of the Moondance Foundation, to help improve mental health amongst young people in secondary schools in Wales. The short films were conceived, written by and star young people who’s experiences are now recognised as being common during lockdown.
We are arranging that these short films are available to young people in schools and youth groups. They will be a catalyst for discussing some of the issues featured in the stories and also ways of coping and strengthening resilience. We hope the films can help young people to recognise mental health problems and be better placed to get help early.
A helpful support pack is available to teachers and group leaders who will be present during the sessions to facilitate discussion, as well as information for further help for individual cases. It is hoped that the results will have a positive effect on teachers’ confidence while working during such difficult times. It would be great if the films are able to support teaching staff as well as pupils in their long term strategy to develop mental health and wellbeing in schools.
Anyone interested in discussing these films can contact Deri deri@smallworld.org.uk.
Ambassadors to Connect to Kindness.
Amethyst has joined the campaign to take action and ‘Connect to Kindness’ in the communities of Ceredigion. Please find out more on the website connectceredigion.org.uk
The five key messages are:
Kindness is for everyone – kindness is inclusive, it knows no barriers or discrimination and is for everyone.
Kindness is good for you – medical research has proven that being kind and, receiving kindness has a positive physical effect on us.
Kindness connects us – it brings us together and helps us share.
Kindness protects us – it has been proven that being kind and receiving kindness helps us to live longer, happier lives.
Kindness is inspiring – When others are kind, we are more likely to be kind ourselves.
Past project work.
2018-2020
Amethyst facilitated workshops in South and North Ceredigion at Small World Theatre and Penparcau Family Centre. Regularly meeting small groups of referred young people.
2019-2020
Launched Junior Schools Programme. Working in schools in Ceredigion to improve emotional well-being and offer coping strategies to groups and individuals. During a series of workshops in schools, the groups created a performance around emotional well-being that they shared with their peers.
2019 – present
Launched Parent/Guardian Support Group. During this year Amethyst launched its first support group in Ceredigion for parents/guardians of young people affected by mental health issues. Face-to-face workshops were tailored to the groups’ needs.
2018
Amethyst Animations. Amethyst created a series of animated films working with its regularly groups and a digital artist in South Ceredigion. These personal films were about their own mental health and their experiences of the project and its support workers.
2017
Amethyst Taster Sessions. Amethyst began by piloting the project to referred individuals. Amethyst made links with CAMHS, local schools, youth groups, GPs and other statutory/third sector organisations.