An Oxford-based charity, AT The Bus, dedicated to helping children and young people through the healing power of art, has received a generous grant of £1,000. The funding, awarded by GreenSquareAccord (GSA), aims to bolster AT The Bus's school outreach programme, which engages children aged five to sixteen using art as therapy.
The grant will facilitate a term of art therapy sessions at New Marston Primary School located in Headington, helping pupils to process their thoughts and feelings through creative expression. During these sessions, students will participate in both group and individual pastoral conversations guided by therapeutic arts facilitators.
Rachel Vlachonikolis, the headteacher of New Marston Primary School, expressed her gratitude for the initiative, stating, "AT The Bus provides much-needed respite and small group support in a creative environment for our pupils. The art-as-therapy sessions provide a calm space during their busy week." This sentiment reflects the significant impact these programmes have on children's emotional well-being.
Maggie Scott, co-CEO of AT The Bus, lauded the support from GSA, saying, "We are extremely grateful to GSA for their support of our work at New Marston Primary School and know it will make an enormous difference to the lives of the children there." Scott’s pride emphasizes the positive outcomes expected from the new funding.
The grant was made possible through GSA’s Community Impact Fund, which aims to support voluntary and community groups within the areas the housing association operates. The initiative is particularly focused on projects like AT The Bus, which partner with schools to provide creative support.
Sian Every, the community investment and social lead at GSA, spoke about the importance of such partnerships, saying, "AT The Bus is an Oxford-based charity who partners with schools to provide art-as-therapy sessions for students struggling, for a number of reasons, to thrive in school. We are proud to support this organisation, and I look forward to hearing about the impact this scheme has at New Marston Primary School." Every's acknowledgment highlights the broader community commitment to improving children's educational experiences through innovative approaches.
The art therapy sessions proposed by AT The Bus serve as more than just artistic endeavors; they represent necessary interventions for students who may be facing challenges within the conventional education system. By using art to facilitate emotional expression, AT The Bus is not only encouraging creativity but also relieving stress and anxiety for young learners.
Feedback from parents and teachers alike has been largely positive since the introduction of these sessions, with many noting improved moods and engagement levels among participants. The systematic use of creative arts as therapy could very well emerge as a model for similar initiatives across the UK, as schools and communities increasingly recognize the necessity of nurturing mental health alongside academic achievement.
Overall, the £1,000 grant from GreenSquareAccord is not just funding for art supplies; it is a commitment to promoting the mental health of young individuals within the community. The collaboration of AT The Bus and New Marston Primary School is set to cultivate resilience and creativity among pupils, powering them with tools to navigate their educational journeys more successfully.