Young people involved with 'Sorted not Screwed up', a nationally acclaimed mental health and wellbeing programme at Aberdeen Foyer, have won a national art competition organised by the Mental Health Foundation and staged at the Tate Modern in London.

With support from Craig Barrowman of Whitespace, and Aberdeen Foyer staff, tenants from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire created a 3-dimensional piece of art in response to a call for entries from across the UK to a photography competition depicting original art to illustrate a report on a 2 year Youth Crisis Project (Mental Health Foundation). Aberdeen Foyer is one of 8 projects in the UK which form a Positive Practice group and the only one in Scotland. The winning entry will be on the front cover of the Mental Health Foundation national report.

The piece of art is made up of life-size images of some of the tenants involved, the various poses, expressions, clothes and colours used express different feelings. The children of some of the tenants are symbolic of the future and the importance of love, compassion and support. The background images of a dolphin, signposts, birds and other items are interwoven into the piece to further demonstrate the complexity of our shifting emotions and the choices, routes and outcomes that can be experienced on an individual's journey while at Aberdeen Foyer.

A 80 cm x 80 cm photograph of the piece was submitted for judging at the Tate Modern. The judging panel comprised of David Sachon a trustee of Mental Health Foundation and young people of Raw Canvas an initiative run at Tate Modern by young adults for young adults, giving everyone the opportunity to reach their own conclusions about art. The judges were extremely impressed by the young people's hard work and very moved by the powerful messages each piece of art conveyed.

In response to hearing the good news Kerrie McFarlane (19) said, “It feels really great to have won. I enjoy doing art and really liked taking part in this project, particularly taking the photos, the team work and putting all the different pieces of the display together. I liked the 3D aspect to it."

Fellow 'artist' Richard Fake (20) added, "I'm shocked we won but think it's great because we did a lot of work in a short space of time. I was a bit reluctant to take part at the beginning because generally I don't 'do art', but have to admit I really enjoyed it."

'Sorted Not Screwed Up' has improved the level and quality of practical and emotional support that is offered to young people in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire experiencing mental health related problems. On-site professional expertise at Aberdeen Foyer has helped many individuals benefit from an established system of support and counselling and developing the arts is a natural extension to the services already available to young people. The added bonus for young people engaging in activities which promote expression and channelling of emotions allows young people to develop self-confidence and promote wellbeing.

ends

Thursday 22 March 2007

With the World Cup fast approaching, the excitement is mounting for those involved this year. Foyer residents are looking forward to taking part in the competition, which will without doubt be the best homeless World Cup yet!