“I wanted to meet new people and make some art and not have a panic attack – and I have achieved that!
This is the one bit of the week where I leave the house and see people that aren’t in my immediate circle.”
The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical developmental period, particularly for young people experiencing mental health challenges.
Our Canvas to Change group offers young people 16-25yrs old a transformational experience that equips them with the skills and confidence to realise their potential. The workshops are run by a great team of experienced practitioners who will help them discover their value and sense of place in their community.
Canvas to Change is a Creative Peer Support group offering
- Weekly 2hr workshops – with a group of max. 12 people you will learn painting, digital art, photography, sculpture, filmmaking, textiles, arts & crafts in an environment that feels like an art college but calmer and relaxing. If you would like to study art at College or University we will help you build a winning portfolio
- Art ideas combined with mental health techniques – a powerful combination that will help you become more self-aware and confident to express yourself, and help you manage stress and anxiety more effectively
- Specialist workshops – we will introduce you to creative professionals in graphic design, community arts, illustration so you can gain a better understanding of your career choices
- Social activities – that will help you build meaningful friendships with group members that can last a lifetime
- 1:1 mental health coaching – will help you reframe challenging life experiences that might otherwise affect your long-term physical and mental health
- 1:1 progression support – will help you resolve practical issues, start new opportunities, and move closer to your chosen career path
The Inevitability of Change
In 2022, 14 young people took part in a 10-week Creative Employability project during which they created three panels illustrating…
Arefeh R.- Hand on Heart
I feel a longing for my homeland. My homeland is a place within my heart. I designed and painted a…
Summer C. – Hand on Heart
You start life in your parents hands, and these hands will determine your future. They are meant to hold and…
Referrals by Parents or Professionals
We appreciate you supporting young people to sign up through our What’s On page but we would like them to register with their own details so we know it is their idea and what they truly want.
After registering, we will call young people directly to introduce ourselves and find out more about what they are looking for, their creative and personal ambitions.
We talk them through our creative approach and current art project, and how we will support them through coaching&mentoring to map their own way forward.
If the young person is nervous about attending alone for the first time, a parent, carer, or health professional is welcome to accompany them, but we need to know in advance to minimise disruption to the group. However, young people need to engage without your support and you cannot stay with them in the group.
Please note that we require minors 16-18yr olds to attend an induction accompanied by their parents/guardians so we can clarify safeguarding and travel arrangements.
Parenting and Self-Care
We encourage parents and carers to prioritize their own mental health too. Why not join our free 3-week Art for Mental Health course in Coventry and take time to focus on your wellbeing? But please note that you cannot attend together with your child as this would breach our confidentiality rules.
“Worrying about the safety of my child became relentless! The ‘what ifs’ took over my life and affected the whole family. Arty-Folks became my sanctuary, a space to focus on my art and give myself a break.” Mum of a 17-year-old
In 2025 we commissioned Coventry University to undertake a pilot study aimed to explore the experiences of 32 young people participating in the Canvas to Change programme and to identify potential benefits of arts-based mental health support in a community setting.
The report highlighted that young people reported increased confidence, stronger relationships and greater readiness to face challenges.
As the first published study of Arty-Folks’ programmes, this research contributes new insights into the role of creative arts in supporting young people’s wellbeing.
The findings suggest that Canvas to Change offers a promising, accessible alternative to traditional mental health services, particularly for individuals who may feel excluded or overwhelmed by clinical environments.
“There’s not as much like stigma attached to it as well, you don’t feel as judged as you would going to like your GP or something like that.”
“There’s like an ongoing support system that feels consistent, and it feels like there’s respect both ways.
It’s not like you’re kind of down here and someone else is up here like you’re being spoken to as a patient. You’re being spoken to as an equal here.”
Unseen Stories – our first publication!
Nine young people 18-25years old, chart the remarkable journey to recovery in words and images in Unseen Stories, a beautifully illustrated book available on Amazon for £14.50.
This group of young people attended in 2019. Through their artwork they explored personal experiences that had thrown them off course and unhelpful life patterns that were holding their dreams hostage.
The book was launched on 10th October 2019 to mark World Mental Health Day, highlighting that a life is lost to mental ill health every 40 seconds.