Young People invited to have their say in You Matter Always event

Young people are invited to have their say in an ideas session with professionals on how arts and culture can positively impact mental health and wellbeing.

The You Matter Always event on Friday 20 October from 2-4pm at St Matthews Church in Paisley forms part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival.

The ideas developed will shape a Youth Mental Health Arts Festival in Scotland’s Year of Young People in 2018 and will also be included in Paisley’s UK City of Culture bid 2021.

There will be live performances from local musicians Linzi Clark, who is part of the Paisley 2021 bid team and Lisa Kowalski, as well as a short film about mental health.

Alan Clark of Create Paisley, which organised the event, said: “The main thing we are trying to do is give young people the opportunity to engage around topical questions on mental health and the arts.

“We want to ask what would help them with their mental health and wellbeing, what things could be better and what we could do more of in the area.

“We’re also looking ahead to 2018, Scotland’s Year of Young People, and putting some ideas in place around what a young people’s Mental Health Arts Festival could look like. We want them to produce that and celebrate the role of arts and culture in helping them with their wellbeing.

“Our ambition is to grow that year on year towards the UK City of Culture 2021 and to develop a whole programme so we can understand what arts can do for young people. It’s an opportunity to create a legacy for Paisley and for Scotland from the year of culture.”

Other groups who will take part include Youth Services, the Recovery Across Mental Health charity, Active Communities and See Me, which aims to end mental health stigma and discrimination.

Paisley 2021 Bid Director Jean Cameron who will also take part in the conversation, said: “We know that providing opportunities for young people to experience arts and culture has a positive impact on their lives and mental health and it’s an important element of our UK City of Culture 2021 bid.

“It’s a way that young people who might otherwise feel isolated can have their voice heard and it’s incredibly important for them to have their say.  I look forward to sharing ideas on the day and taking them forward.”

On the evening of the event a special fundraiser will also be held at Blend Coffee Lounge at 7.30pm with Rachelle and Brittany Davies to raise funds towards 2018’s festival.

The free daytime event can be booked at Info:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/you-matter-always-tickets-38724175050?aff=es2