Exhibition Brings Together Counselling and Art Students

An Innovative children’s counselling programme is holding its first-ever art exhibition celebrating the joint labours of Edinburgh youngsters and art school students.
 
For the past few weeks eight students from the Leith School of Art have been volunteering with children from CrossReach’s counselling services and working together to create works of art.
 
Their fruits will be displayed at the free “Art for Life” event in Wallace House on Sunday 31July, and there will be a dance performance on the day too.
 
The project was initiated by CrossReach in partnership with the Leith School of Art with the aim of creating a wider awareness of the therapeutic and developmental value of creative work for children and young people.
 
It is also hoped the event will increase support from the wider community for disadvantaged kids in the wider Edinburgh area.
 
Project manager Jacqui Lindsay explained: “Disavantaged children such as our clients need positive interaction with young adults, such as the art students, working alongside them to achieve a goal together.
 
“This can increase confidence, self belief – a hugely positive experience in the midst of what is often very challenging life circumstances.
 
“For many children, counselling and play therapy is one of the few places they receive focused one-on-one attention from an adult who listens to them without judgement, in a compassionate, accepting and responsive way.
 
“This art project has been an additional safe place for the young people to explore and create – this hasn’t been therapy but it has certainly been therapeutic.
 
“The event will publicly recognise and value the work that our young clients have put into overcoming their challenging situations, as well as the assistance given by the art students into supporting these young people.”
 
The children and young person’s service at Wallace House began in 2005 with a grant from BBC Children in Need and funding from CrossReach.
 
The service was set up with a part-time children’s therapist, a dedicated children’s room and an outdoor play area.
 
Over the years, trained counsellors have gone into several primary and secondary schools to offer counselling alongside the existing services.
 
Although finances are difficult in the current climate, Wallace House has secured enough funding to continue serving some of the most vulnerable young people and their families in Edinburgh for the next two years, dealing with struggles such as anger, bullying, bereavement, depression and abuse.