Working in partnership with New Images Youth and Community Centre, Mind Body Balance Academy, Youth Fed and Winsford Care Community, The Spotlight Project is an initiative for young people aged 11-18 in Winsford to get active to improve their mental health and well-being. Placing the Spotlight on what the YOUNG PEOPLE like to do, the initiative encourages this age group to experience new things whilst building their confidence and providing the opportunity to engage with others from the local area.

The project brings young people from different backgrounds together from across Winsford (e.g., mix of ages, those attending different mainstream and specialist/alternative education amongst other demographics) to learn from and support each other. It provides a safe, supportive, youth led space for the young people to explore creatively. Specialist mental health support throughout the programme ensures The Spotlight Project is a space that young people experiencing mental health challenges can attend safely and social prescribers can be confident to refer in to.

The programme facilitators offer sessions to develop technique as well as exploring self-awareness, self-confidence and ways to promote wellbeing through creative activity. The content of the sessions is shaped by the needs and interests of the young people and is adapted as they continue to develop. Alongside regular sessions, visiting artists are commissioned to introduce the young people to new activities. Examples of past activities include: Parkour, Graffiti and Circus Skills.

The Spotlight Project began in late 2019 and formed part of the Cultural Regeneration Programme for Winsford Town Centre. Bringing together teens and pre-teens at New Images Youth Centre, the project saw ages 11+ engage with dance and creative workshops, culminating in a performance at the Winsford Creates Festival.

For this current year, The Spotlight Project is providing movement sessions (dance and boxing fitness) for all abilities, including complete beginners. The aim of the sessions is to give ages 11-18 years old the opportunity to get moving and active in a friendly, non-judgemental and no-pressure environment, with members of Youth Fed on site at each session to assist with mental well-being when necessary.

Alongside regular creative physical activity sessions, for 2023/2024 there is a smaller group of young people working within the group to develop Leadership Skills. Within this Leadership Programme, we offer workshops facilitated by practitioners with different expertise to explore skills and personal leadership journeys and 1:1 mentoring with facilitators to track development and support individual journeys.

Throughout the project, local GPs, school mental health practitioners and the local Police have signposted a number of Young People to the initiative to date.

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More Information:

Social Prescribers and youth professionals can download the Spotlight Information Sheet here.

For further questions, please contact: classes@cheshiredance.org.

Are you a young person that would like to take part in the Spotlight Project? Click here for details of what it’s all about.

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