About the Charity
The creation of art is a transformative process that allows the creator to process and work through challenging changes, feelings and attitudes about their life in a constructive, non-threatening way. That is the belief that drives conFAB. This is a collaborative project, set up with the Young Parents Support Base YPSB, to work alongside the formal support programme offered by YPSB. By using arts as a tool, conFAB has provided a peer supported environment that allows for information sharing, learning and reflection whilst also enjoying the benefits of creating art.
The Funding Process
conFAB applied for a 3 year grant to support their First Feet project, involving teenage parents participating in arts sessions.
Trustees were impressed by the clear outcomes around attachment and confidence in parenting, particularly the partnership that developed with the Young Parents Support Base and in 2018 awarded 75% of the original award application.
How has the funding helped?
Pregnancy is a rich but challenging chapter of a parents life. The remarkable journey of new life can be a positive, transformative experience or for an unplanned teenage pregnancy, it can be challenging, traumatic experience loaded with stigma. conFAB support teenage parents to provide the best start in life for their families which in turn will have long term benefits for the family.
"By using art as a tool we provide a peer support environment that will allow for information sharing, learning and reflection. The creation of art is a transformative process that allows the creator to process and work through challenging changes, feelings and attitudes about their life in a constructive, non-threatening way. I imagined what my practise would do, what it is doing, which is opening up, creatively, a discussion with the young parents about their pregnancy. I just hadn’t anticipated the sensitivity of it, but it has been wonderful, the slow working to build that up."
Summary
As a committed partner of the First 1001 Days Movement, we believe that what happens during the pregnancy has a significant and influential impact on child development. It lays the foundation for the child’s future health, wellbeing and learning potential. Helping to promote good mental health in teenage pregnant mothers through art can make a huge long-term impact on both mother and child when the baby comes.
If you think you would like to talk to us about your early year works and how Cattanach could support you, contact us.
