This week the Armidale Police and Community Youth Club (PCYC) received delivery of creative art kits designed to lift the spirit of local primary students who are doing it tough.
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The junior indigenous art kits are from the PCYC charity partner, Heart to Heart.
"PCYC NSW recently secured a very generous donation from an anonymous donor to purchase art therapy kits from Donna Rankin, the founder of the wonderful evidence-based creative arts program," said Armidale PCYC manager Phil Brown.
"They will be distributed to vulnerable young people in need through PCYC Armidale."
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Heart to Heart aims is to change the lives of young people who have been challenged by life.
"Many young adults are faced with devastating and traumatic obstacles in their lives," Ms Rankin said.
"Heart To Heart aims to heal these broken hearts by re-connecting with spirit through the creative arts."
The program typically takes place in a safe school classroom environment where the students are led through the painting process and learn skills of observation, compassion for others, developing trust and meaningful relationships, meditation and calming techniques, managing stress and anxiety, and sharing your story.
"The students interact with mentors, mental health workers, and police youth liaison officers as part of the healing process as well as embracing community," Ms Rankin said.
The popular program has been run in partnership with the Taree NSW Police Youth and Crime Command youth case manager, SC Karen Hoskins, at PCYC Taree for several years.
Mr Brown said the art kits Armidale PCYC has been given are an off-shoot of that program and are designed for young people who cannot attend a program or who have been struggling emotionally in lock-downs.
"The kits are being packed and are ready to send out," he said.
"They are wonderful, and we hope their arrival will help many young people in our area feel a little bit better."
Ms Rankin worked with Indigenous artist Lara from Yukul Art to create culturally relevant kits for upper primary school-aged youth in the Armidale area.
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Vanessa Arundale
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
