Student is taking art therapy to Dundee families

Undergraduate dipping into psychology research budget to deliver boxes of paint and booklets full of ideas during lockdown

A Dundee psychology student is using her research budget to deliver arts and craft supplies to families in the city.

Vicky Armstrong, a Dundee PhD student, partnered with Home-start Dundee to offer art therapy sessions to families struggling with mental health.

After sessions were cancelled, Vicky used part of her research budget to organise art boxes packed full of paints and booklets full of craft ideas for families to work on while in lockdown.

The project, supported by Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA), aims to help parents strengthen connections with their young children.

The first batch of art boxes will benefit 15 vulnerable families in Dundee, with Home-start also moving classes online to help parents through the sessions.

It is hoped the scheme can be rolled out across the city in the future as Vicky, a qualified art psychotherapist, has been researching the connection between art and strengthening childhood wellbeing and attachment as part of her doctoral studies.

She said: “Art therapy can help improve children’s general wellbeing and development and help with attachment relationships.

“We are also seeing how important it is for impacting mental health for parents as they are able to connect with their children.

“I was halfway through sessions with parents involved with Home-start and after they were cancelled I wanted to find a way to keep supporting families even if they can’t get to meetings.

“Providing art equipment was the best way to do this as it meant parents weren’t having to worry about sourcing equipment themselves.

“We are hoping if the packs work this can be something we can see funding for to roll out more widely and help more families.”

Estelle Coulthard, young parents co-ordinator and group worker at Home-start Dundee, said: “We are trying to support the city’s vulnerable families by keeping children entertained and making sure the families we work with are coping.

“The feedback that we’ve had since going online has shown us that these families are struggling mentally due to a lack of activities.

“Anything we can provide to help the parents keep their children entertained is welcomed with open arms at the moment and that’s why the Art at the Start project is so great.”