Launch of New Project

06 Mar Launch of New Project

RSA Mental Pictures

RSA Arrow Vale have been proud to participate and host the launch of a new project in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness week. The project involves Churchill Middle School, Ipsley CE RSA Academy and RSA Arrow Vale along with the Royal Society of Art, and the Helen Storey Foundation. Students in yr10 who take photography GCSE and yr12 Media students all took part.

The launch involved the coming together of all of the above to be able to meet and listen to two guest speakers, David Frost – The Samaritans and Morag Myerscough – Royal Designer for Industry. David Frost has worked for The Samaritans for a number of years and gave a fascinating insight into what they do and the reasons for doing it. Davis looked at giving us an introduction to the subject of looking after our emotional health, the importance of both talking and listening and the service we provide The variety of different people that they help and what they help them with. Morag Myerscough is a Graphic designer who has worked on a number of projects that link to Mental Health including designing hospital wards and community buildings. Her take on making a bright and colourful environment with bold contrasting shapes in order to improve mood and atmosphere was a real inspiration to our students. Both speakers then took questions from the audience to help further inspire them, many students asking challenging and pertinent questions.

The next session allowed the students to digest what they had heard and then begin planning what they were going to do for the school and how it would benefit students. Using images taken by the photography students the groups came up with a range of ideas to include a poster campaign, a tranquility garden and transforming areas in the school to improve well-being with bright and bold colour. Moving forwards the immediate definates are a poster campaign for creating awareness using some of the Yr10 and 12 photography in which the media group will also talked about producing a website or link page to be attached to the school site. Long term goals and on-going projects will be a tranquility garden where students can come a sit quietly, can be used as an outdoor teaching space or just as an area to relax, especially for dealing with anxiety.

Many Thanks to all involved and we look forwards to seeing the fruits of your labor

Mr Linington