Three Toxteth women run projects helping young people aged 11 - 16 with their mental health and well-being during school holidays.
Brodie Arthur runs YouFoundation with Leah Watson, who held a series of workshops in their Self Care Camp to create a piece of art reflecting what they learned through the sessions. They focused on self-love and care and worked in partnership with Mindbloom Selfcare run by Nabila Estridge. All three women are aged 31.
The workshops had an introduction to yoga run by Leah, meditation and mindfulness led by Nabila and Brodie facilitated drama and improvisation sessions which explored the issues of the workshops. They then created a song with two songwriters and recorded it in the Florrie’s Radio's studio in Mill Street in the Dingle.
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Raya, 13, told the ECHO: "I benefited from the course because it was something to get me out the house and off social media for a bit. It made me realise that loving yourself makes you feel happier.
"If I didn’t do this course I would have just been stuck in the house bored and anxious. The worksheets we got to take away from Mindbloom have been helping me keep track of what I do for myself and helping me add more self care to my days".
Brodie said: "We’re youth provision creating activities by applying for commissions and grants as individuals and facilitating said activities in and around Liverpool 8. We use arts to allow young people to explore current affairs and things they’re experiencing in a safe environment whilst promoting health and wellbeing”.
YouFoundation was set up in 2021 and the "You" in YouFoundation stands for ‘Your Story, Our Mission, United'. Mindbloom formed in 2020 as an online community for the purposes of uplifting others who may have been struggling during the pandemic.
They now combine their skills and partner with other practitioners to provide projects allowing young people to explore and express themselves through various art forms.
Nabila said: "My aim was to offer support in self-care, self-love and self-discovery at a time when mental health services were limited. I created resources inspired by different courses I had completed and learned from.
"Since embarking on a teaching assistant course I have volunteered with young people which led to me co-creating my first ever youth project and facilitating workshops I had planned using resources I created".
YouFoundation and MindBloom are in the process of setting up formally and continue to embark on a series of workshops helping young people and hope to get funding to tour schools and centres across Liverpool.
Raya added: "I would say definitely join in, it's a lot of fun and could help with some of your insecurities and make you feel better about yourself. The thing I most liked was recording it and working in the studio".
Harper, 11, said: "I really enjoyed using my creativity and meeting new friends."
The project ended with them being interviewed and talking about their experiences in the workshops on BBC Radio Merseyside.
For more information visit YouFoundation HERE
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