Our programme is based on primary research that we carried out at the beginning of the programme that identified confidence and non-acute, non-clinical mental health conditions as one of two main barriers our students face, when transitioning from university to employment or self-employment.

Furthermore, the lack of high-quality, live & real professional experience, evidencing their application of specialist creative and transferrable skills, being the other. A factor inflated by the pandemic, which is also having a negative impact on our students non-acute and non-clinical mental health, e.g., by not having the confidence that they can apply their skills, knowledge and experience in a professional context.

Our approach to developing students’ employability is use the evidence base that the active engagement in process-led and non-assessed creative actives can improve our mental health and wellbeing; with the opportunity to work on creative, high quality, challenge-based, transdisciplinary & professional live briefs, with the five steps to wellbeing being embedded in the latter.

We are using co-design methodology, to design our creative programmes with students, optimising the wealth of creative skills, knowledge and experience we have at Falmouth, to improve students’ mental health and wellbeing; and ultimately enabling, supporting and guiding them into the world of work after university. Each programme is designed to:

• Stimulate curiosity and creativity
• Offer students new creative opportunities
• Help them destress, find confidence, resilience and enhance their CVS,
• Enable students to collaborate with new students from other courses
• Provide focus and reduce any worry, stress and anxiety
• Develop transferrable skills, and their articulation of these
• All in a safe, guided and creative spaces

To date we have co-designed workshops including creative writing, drawing, photography, video, theatre, painting, printing, music, sculpture; embedded with the five steps to well-being; also, a series of inspiring talks from artists and creative industry partners.

Please contact Sasha Dobrota for further information: Sasha.Dobro[email protected] or alternatively click the Get Started button.