The ICE Project

This ambitious, innovative programme is a collaboration between Hampshire Cultural Trust and Hampshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. We set out with the joint view that arts and cultural activities can have a positive impact on our psychological health and emotional wellbeing.

The ICE Project ran from January 2017 – January 2020. It was a collaboration between Hampshire Cultural Trust and Hampshire CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service), provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The ICE Project had three central aims in order to engage groups of young people in a range of artistic and creative projects:

To INSPIRE young people in Hampshire to connect with their own mental health through arts and culture. This included a point of inspiration such as a theatre trip, cultural experience or talk.
For young people to participate in arts activities and CREATE artwork, in order to acquire skills, express themselves and experience a personal journey. Groups of young people were able to work with professional artists (in varying art forms) either over a 7-10 week project or an intensive workshop over 2-3 full days.
For young people to EXCHANGE their ideas, opinions and advice about mental health with the public and feel a sense of achievement. The project provided public sharing opportunities, such as performance showcases, exhibitions or online sharing of work created.

I have gained confidence, happiness, new friendships, new art skills, meeting new people and achieved things I never thought I could.

Participant

Over three years the project engaged with:

103 Young people directly referred from Hampshire CAMHS
266 Young people at risk of mental health difficulties
1145 Young people in schools
360 NHS Staff
79 Arts and youth organisations

Over the last three years we have partnered with organisations across Hampshire to deliver The ICE Project, they are:

Youth Organisations: Andover Young Carers; Breakout Youth; Eastleigh Young Carers; F.A.S.S (Family Autistic Spectrum Support); Ferne Lodge Children’s Home; Hampshire CAMHS; Hampshire County Council – Children in Care; Hampshire Foster Carers Network; Hampshire Youth Offending Team; Hart and Rushmoor Young Carers; Havant & East Hants MIND; Just Wellbeing; KIDS (Fareham and Gosport Young Carers); Lakeside School; OPCC Youth Commission; Romsey Young Carers; Simon Says; Solent Youth Action; Swanwick Lodge; Y Services

Participating schools: Applemore College; Grange Junior School; Netley Abbey Primary School; Ropley Primary School; Sharps Copse Primary School; Stanmore Primary School

Arts and cultural partners: Ashcroft Arts Centre (HCT); Bearface Theatre; Complex Simplicity; Core Art Journaling; Claire Vine and Iris Hill; Crank Pots; Diana Burch; Fluid Motion Theatre; Forest Arts Centre (HCT); Granary Arts Centre; In Focus Education; Integr8 Movement; Kezia Hoffman; Laurence Rushby; Little Art Haven; Music Fusion; My Friendly Planet; Neck of the Woods Productions; Sarah Gaiger; SoCo Music Project; Sophie Douglas; Stand Tall Theatre; Strong Island Media; The Colour Factory; The Nutshell; The Point; We Are All Creative; West End Centre (HCT); Winnall Rock School

Proud Supporter of

With special thanks to all of the young people involved. You can hear more from the participants and those involved in The ICE Project films produced in year 1,2 and 3 below.

The ICE Project on YouTube

In year three of the project, Hampshire Cultural Trust and Hampshire CAMHS were shortlisted for a Health Service Journal award, in the 'Mental Health Innovation of the Year' category 2019. In this short film some of our young people share their thoughts about the benefits of The ICE Project.

The ICE Project is supported with investment from Artswork, the South East Bridge, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and individual donors to Hampshire Cultural Trust.

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