At Jump, we believe in looking after ourselves as well as looking after each other. The ‘5 steps of Mental Health and Wellbeing’ have helped guide the winter-spring term at Jump Studios. These 5 steps are: give, connect, keep learning, take notice and be active.
We know how important it is for young people to keep learning and exploring topics around mental health and wellbeing so we have been spreading awareness around the 5 steps and using each one to drive creativity and design throughout our sessions.
Sound Wave
This term in Sound Wave, we have been exploring songwriting, inspiration and collaboration. We have seen some amazing work from the young people and we have really noticed their confidence grow throughout the term. We have a range of interests and tastes which has resulted in an amazing selection of great music. Some have taken to creating music on software such as Sound Trap, Garage Band and Logic Pro and some have used the range of instruments to jam with others and create songs for the first time.
Through these discussions about the ‘5 Steps of Mental Health and Wellbeing’, we were able to get some insights into the importance of having a safe creative space for them to come to each week. This has been demonstrated by the supportive atmosphere the young people have created, as well as the work they have created.
Youth Council
We have started running our Youth Council sessions with the new 2022 cohort. We understand how important it is that local young people get their voices heard and with the new Youth Council committee they are willing to use their voices to start making positive change!
We have been communicating with the wider Knowle West community and the young people have been working with re:CREATE Filwood, Play:Disrupt and the wider ‘KWMC‘ organisation to help drive change and make real-life community decisions.
Control Alt Delete
The young people have demonstrated a lot of creativity throughout the term and have been willing to explore new technologies that they may have not used before. They have been trying out a range of different tech that includes VR, coding with Spheros even creating their own face filters using P5 coding. We have also seen some incredible 3D designs using Tinkercad where they have created their own gaming worlds. Along with this, they created their own characters for their gaming world, digitally drawing them using Sketchbook or Pixel art.
Creative Hub
Creative Hub used the 5 steps to inspire their own personal creative projects.
While learning new creative tech skills the young people continued with the theme of ‘Keep Learning’ while they researched new topics that they felt curious about. They used this research to help guide their personal creative projects. Gathering new information through self-led research and channelling their new ideas and knowledge through different creative vices.
Some of the sessions focused on the idea of ‘Giving’ where we thought about the people we cared about and made them gifts using the sticker making machine. ‘Be Active’ was channelled through animation and the concept of movement as expression. Throughout all of our sessions, we make sure that the group starts with an active, tangible exercise to get everyone’s brains and bodies moving to help inspire their creative juices.
We successfully included all of our themes in the sessions and had a really positive response from the young people.
Maker City
This term at Maker City we have been busy delivering a programme alongside the curriculum at ‘KnowleDGE‘ (a local school down the road from ‘KWMC‘). The students have tried their hand at designing laser cut and vinyl objects they have been fascinated with 3D design and have learnt some new 3D design skills using Tinkercad and Thingiverse. This proved useful when taking part in STEM-in-Action activities where they designed and built a bridge out of spaghetti! The young people also took part in creating Sphero mazes, and carefully engineered a parachute to protect their eggs in the famous Maker City Egg Drop!
Combining Maker City with assessments alongside the school curriculum has allowed the young people to express their creativity, learn lots of new STEAM skills and have the chance to talk about social issues that matter to them. It has enabled a different perspective on how you can combine STEAM, product design and creativity all whilst completing assessment criteria.
Maker City Industry
The participants have been taking part in live project work alongside mentors from ‘Arup’, ‘Arcadis‘ and ‘Mott Macdonald‘. The projects the young people got to work on were: Ensuring accessible transport for the “Youth Zones” project, prototyping houses for Better Lives at Home, and How Sustainability is considered in businesses when designing homes. Maker City Industry is a space for young people to gain real-world experience and insight into how some of the most influential construction organisations create change and make things happen in Bristol and Beyond!
We are readying up for the next term as we focus on the celebration of community, which is dear to our hearts!
If you want to find out more about how young people can get involved in any of our programmes, click ‘here‘ to find our registration form!