Celebrating Safety via Manga: Empowering Young People in York
Our project aimed to engage 30 young people(aged12-16)inWestYork(Acomb, Foxwood, Westfield) who had faced school suspension. Through "Celebrating Safety via Manga" sessions, we provided a unique and engaging artistic outlet, fostering a sense of community and promotingsafety
ProjectDesignandDelivery:
Youth-Led Approach: Sessions were co-designed and co-led by young people from our previous programs These individuals, many from families who had experienced poverty, served as paid "advocates," a role we hoped to offer to participants of this new project.
Targeted Outreach: In collaboration with five local schools and the Council's Community Officers, we identified young people on referral lists for anti-social behaviour and local damage, focusing on recently suspendedpupils
CreativeEngagement:Ourprimaryfocus was on fast-paced, engaging art sessions. Young people harnessed their artistic skills to create comic strips featuring characters who prioritized each other's safety Empty speech bubbles were filled with aspirational, communityminded dialogue and slogans, subtly emphasizing the importance of being and feeling safe This offered a welcome respite for children who may not have beeninterestedinsports.
Proven Track Record: We had extensive experience in nurturing young people's artistictalents,boastinganexcellenttrack record in guiding them to achieve nationally recognized Arts Awards and qualifications
ImpactandSustainability:
Advocate Development: All our current paid advocates were former participants in our activities, with five now exploring enrollment at York College as a viable pathway We were committed to employing future assistants from this project, providing similar benefits and opportunities
Community Integration: Our strong relationships with local schools facilitated termly visits and consistent communication with staff regarding referral lists, ensuring joined-up delivery and effective reengagementofsuspendedpupils.
AIMS THROUGH ART
We were confident that our creative sessions would allow the young people to express themselves through Manga charactersaspirational narratives, positive speech bubbles, characters who guided other characters to experience creativity and culture, all overseen in the sessions by our Teenage Advocates. Safety was the theme, and we felt the best way for us to celebrate this was through creating Manga, comics, that led to high profile exhibitions.
C O L L A G E, P H O T O S A N D M A N G A
We are always on the lookout for new advocates As our current cohort gets older, we will need new teenage assistants to help us circulate around the room where future activities will be held, and, peer to peer, help younger participants harness the objectives of the Arts Award journey Engagement and learning is so much better and brighter when we have young people co-leading and designing schemes of work.
This project’s learners, referred by local schools as vulnerable or disruptive, will be encouraged to become those very advocates, gaining raised aspirations, stronger CVs, and paid work.
Greg McGee, Artist
Thank
you, North Yorkshire Police Community Fund
We focused on fun, creativity, and aspirations and we NAILED it!
Our art activities covered illustration, photography, and curating exhibitions. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Greg McGee, NEW VISUALITY
