Creative Toolbox is is an exciting youth creative wellbeing programme for young people from across Dumfries & Galloway dealing with low self-esteem, low confidence and/or poor mental health.

The Creative Toolbox programme explores a variety of art forms focused on storytelling, and participants have the opportunity to work with professional artists from Dumfries & Galloway and beyond, enabling them to be inspired and empowered. It aims to boost creativity, broaden horizons, increase social connection with other young people, and increase access to further creative opportunities. 

Over several months, participants are led by the Youth Lead and guided by Associate Artists during regular remote and in-person sessions that explore a range of arts practices. All participants receive a package of materials, curated to allow everyone to easily take part in each online session – increasing accessibility significantly.   

Workshops explore a variety of creative processes and techniques – previous workshops have included sound design, illustration, creative writing and theatre-making. 

The Creative Toolbox programme is delivered annually and connects to a subsequent Graduate Programme which supports participants to ‘scale up’ their ambitions and pursue further creative wellbeing opportunities.

The Creative Toolbox programme allows youth participants aged 11-18 years old from across Dumfries & Galloway to gather in safe, supportive environments, and take part in a variety of creative workshops, working with a range of talented, professional Artists and Makers.   

Using the curated box of materials as a starting point, the Adult & Youth Creative Wellbeing Leads works with OutPost Arts’ Creative Health & Wellbeing Director and Associate Artists to design and delivery impactful, accessible, engaging, fun and meaningful experiences and learning opportunities – focusing on mindfulness, relaxation, manageable skills-development and relationship-building.  

Participants are encouraged to share their personal journeys and progress and receive feedback, advice, encouragement and support from the programme’s artists and Peer Mentors (graduates of previous cohorts) via private social media platforms. 

As part of the programme, Creative Toolbox participants also have the opportunity to enjoy trips both regionally in Dumfries and Galloway and further afield to places like Glasgow or Edinburgh. Participants and project leaders visit key sites of interest, spending the day identifying and researching creative work to inform and inspire creative practice. The trips are also an excellent way for the group to get know each other better through spending the day together.

Previous trips include a creative research trip to Kirkcudbright, touring the Kircudbright Art & Craft Trail; a zine making workshop at the Zine Library in Glasgow; and a trip to Edinburgh to explore galleries and create a film at Sky Studios.