Outdoor Studios CIC received funding from Kent Community Foundation to provide art sessions for young carers.
Outdoor Studios CIC facilitates artist-led workshops for creative experiential learning exploring environment, landscape and place, and the advancing impact of climate change. They received a total £4000 towards art sessions for young carers, in Ashford, Folkestone, Sittingbourne and Canterbury, from two philanthropic funds managed by Kent Community Foundation.
Outdoor Studios CIC aim to bring free and low-cost activities to families living in areas of deprivation in and around Kent, who may feel excluded from arts and culture. Working in partnership with the charity Imago Community, Outdoor Studios CIC applied to Kent Community Foundation for funding to provide a series of eight complimentary, bespoke creative outdoor workshops for young carers aged between 5-18. The art sessions were designed to help raise awareness of Imago Community’s work with carers of all ages; provide respite and wellbeing opportunities for young people living in stressful circumstances; and provide valuable opportunities for interaction with peers.
Elsie Monks, Children and Young People’s Team Leader, Imago Community said, “Being a young carer is a huge responsibility and the Outdoor CIC art sessions were a wonderful opportunity to provide wellbeing and bonding opportunities in natural environments. During these sessions they don’t have to worry about what’s going on at home and their normal caring roles. It just gives them a chance to be children, to be happy and have fun and make friends for a day.”
Natalie Smith, Director of Grants and Impact and Deputy Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation said, “Two of our philanthropic fundholders were pleased to jointly fund this project which allowed children, who are young carers, to meet others with similar responsibilities and recharge their batteries through a shared art experience.”
Artist Amanda Thesiger, from Outdoor Studios CIC, who led a carer art session in Canterbury said, “Outdoor Studios has been running for nearly 10 years, and we work with all sorts of groups, all ages and backgrounds, linking people with place, with the natural environment and with green spaces. We’re really pleased to be working with young carers as part of our commitment to work with groups that might not otherwise get out and about into nature, into environments like this, and have the freedom and the space to be themselves. They’ve shown themselves to be true artists, and I also think being in nature helps to release something as well.”
To contact Kent Community Foundation about funding for charities and community groups call 01303 814500, email admin@kentcf.org.uk or visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding
About Outdoor Studios CIC
Outdoor Studios CIC is a mobile resource, offering full and half day and bespoke art workshops in and around Kent, with a focus on environment. Groups benefit from the use of creativity to learn about and respond to geologically and historically rich landscapes, from forests and coasts to town and urban settings.
About Imago Community
Imago Community provides support and opportunities to people, families, and communities across Kent, East Sussex, Medway and South London. Their services focus on improving health and wellbeing, tackling loneliness, building social and educational opportunities, and helping people access the right support.
About Kent Community Foundation
Experienced grant-maker Kent Community Foundation is the organisation behind the organisations and has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary groups in the county for over twenty three years. In this time, it has distributed almost £57 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
Kent Community Foundation is part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-seven Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged by matching those who want to help, with those who need the help.
Responsible for more than ninety philanthropic funds, Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and assists individuals, families, and businesses who want to help, to establish and administer their own charitable funds.
Kent Community Foundation funding priorities –
- Children, Young People & Families
Supporting disadvantaged children and young people’s physical and mental health, encouraging positive choices and staying safe. - Vulnerable Adults
Helping those who may need extra care dealing with challenging issues or those at risk of social exclusion or discrimination.
3. Elderly and Isolated
Enabling elderly adults to stay well, healthy, independent and free from social isolation.
4. Employability, Skills & Enterprise
Creating opportunities to develop skills and confidence and have a positive impact in areas and groups of people with high unemployment.
5. Environment
Encouraging community action to improve and protect local spaces with support sustainable ways of living.
