By Becca Wilson-Ferris, Education & Engagement Coordinator
Summer is almost over and as sad as I am about the end of the good weather, it does mean that we can begin delivering year two of Resilient Child, our Education and Engagement programme.
ID: YAA Facilitator in a music classroom standing on a red star covered carpet talking to a group of children
We started out in 2024-25 with a goal, to see if the arts can help build resilience in children six schools across Belfast. When we use the term ‘resilience’, it doesn’t mean having a thick skin; we wanted to see whether by taking part in a series of drama and visual art workshops, we could increase the skills and behaviours children need to help them better manage the challenges and problems that they might face in school and life.
After training our amazing team of artist facilitators and artistic support, we got to work and started to plan the workshops.
ID: two coloured pencil drawings of a bench drawn by children in a workshop
Year One was amazing!
ID: kids standing in a circle, one child sitting on the floor with colourful fabric in the middle
Over the course of the year, our ‘resilient children’ explored Hope, Empathy, Respect, and Self Love. One teacher said that “the Hope telescopes was a firm favourite in my class and such a creative idea for future years!” Our resilient children also got to visit Belfast Children’s Festival in March
ID: Four colourful portraits using paint and smiley circles stuck on green background
I would like to thank the incredible teachers and Head Teachers for helping make this first year of Resilient Child so special and for trusting in us as we piloted this new project! Not just from me and YAA but our artists too who said “Teachers really valued our time, workshops and the connected learning”. I would also like to thank our professional and talented team of artist facilitators and support-without whom we couldn’t deliver Resilient Child.
Resilient Child would not be possible without our funders. Thank you to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Arts Council NI, Foras Na Gaelige and Garfield Weston for their support in year one of Resilient Child and continuous support as we move into year two. Thank you for the additional funding we received from Ciste Spreagtha, James Brown, Cathedral Sit Out Fund, ESB Energy for Generation for year one. We are delighted to have received funding from Esme Mitchell, Victoria Homes Trust, Halifax Foundation and RTÉ Toy Show Appeal for year two of Resilient Child.
