Funding boost for Omagh drama group will benefit young people’s mental health

Thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s National Lottery Young People and Wellbeing Arts Programme, Golden Apple Players will offer 40 young people aged 12-18 the chance to be involved in a very special drama project, ‘The Tiniest Lifeboat’. The project is specifically targeted at young people in the area, living with mental health conditions or at risk of addiction.

Over 8-months, the Tyrone project will use drama, music and dance to explore and express challenges & feelings around mental health. The project will conclude with a ‘Revue’ where young people showcase their feelings and expressions specifically relevant to their mental health journey over the project duration.

The National Lottery Young People and Wellbeing Arts Programme was set up by the Arts Council to help give a voice to young people through drama, music, visual arts and literature activities. Last Autumn, organisations were invited to apply for up to £10,000 each to support arts-led projects, with a particular focus on developing proposals which included young people experiencing higher levels of disadvantage or exclusion and more vulnerable groups, such as those living with a mental health condition, eating disorders or addiction.

Lorraine Calderwood, ARTiculate Young People and Wellbeing Programme Manager at the Arts Council, commented: 

“Thanks to funding from the National Lottery and money raised by National Lottery players for Good Causes, we are delighted to announce grants for 18 organisations today through the ARTiculate Programme. The positive links between engagement in the arts and our health and wellbeing are firmly established.

“The awards announced today will support a fantastic range of creative projects in communities across Northern Ireland. With this funding, we want to reach out to some of the most vulnerable young people in society to engage them in fun and creative arts projects, which help build confidence and promote self-expression. The planned project by Golden Apple Players is a fantastic example of the special role that arts can play in our communities, promoting positive mental health and helping to build resilience.”

Commenting on their recent funding, Annmarie Conway from Golden Apple Players commented: 

"We at the Golden Apples are thrilled to be able to deliver this programme to a group of young people in Omagh. We know the positive impact immersion in the arts can have on young people's mental health and well-being. We look forward to seeing the young people develop expression, confidence and coping skills. We cannot thank the Arts Council enough for supporting our 'Tiniest Lifeboat' programme.