Our work in schools this term
“AT The Bus is a friendly space where I can focus on how I am with people and forget about my worries” Student
This term we’re working with nine schools, offering our core provision of school-based art as therapy to support the education, health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 5-16. We’re delivering 46 sessions a week, with groups of up to seven students in each session, lasting up to two hours. Working on individual and group art projects, the students transform everyday objects into art, while also transforming their feelings about themselves. By sharing food and conversation during regular, consistent time together, the sessions encourage students to build trust in themselves and others, promote self-esteem, independence, positive relationships, emotional literacy and resilience. We now have five dedicated studio spaces: on our double-decker bus, at The Cherwell School, Oxford at Greyfriars Catholic School, Oxford at New Marston Primary School, Oxford at Barlby primary in West Kensington, London at St Marylebone CE Bridge School, London, a school for children with special educational needs.
And are providing a pop-up experience at: Lord Williams’s Secondary School in Thame, Oxfordshire Brackenbury Primary School in Hammersmith & Fulham, London SS Philip and James Primary School, Oxford St Frideswide Primary School, Oxford We carefully design our work with each group to meet the students’ needs, meaning we have a wide variety of projects each term. Thanks to all our generous friends and donors – it is only with your support that we have been able to continue to grow over the last 4 years, enabling us to support many more children and young people. If you’d like to read our 2022 audited accounts, they are now available on the Charity Commission website.
Family groups explore The Owl and the Pussycat Family groups at New Marston Primary School have been exploring Ian Beck’s beautifully illustrated The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear this term. With its diverse cast of characters and journey theme, it’s a tried and tested project for AT The Bus. Family group workshops are a new initiative for AT The Bus. Families are referred by the school for many reasons, and the parents/carers, children, the school and our AT The Bus team are all seeing positive benefits. One parent reflected, “Having toast together is great”. Tactile props are used to introduce the topic (a papier mâché cat, a real quince). We start with a parents-only session, creating puppets to bring the story to life with their children the following week. This gives parents an insight into what it’s like for a child to attend AT The Bus, and a chance to build confidence in the art studio. It’s wonderful to hear the children praise their parents’ artwork and the other way round. Over eight weeks, we focus on building confidence through play, praise and positive language; learning to make mistakes and move on; and working as a group. Mini-projects include puppet-making with card and colouring pens, character modelling in playdough and clay, decorating miniature suitcases and making a puppet theatre using acrylic and fabric paints. The final session sees the children perform the story to their parents using a puppet theatre they’ve created, and the parents’ pride is obvious! They take home their creations and a copy of the book so they can re-tell the story together at home. These quotes convey the joy of this project: “One for me, and one for mum” “I liked everything about making the puppets” “Can we listen to the story again?” We are grateful to Clore Duffield Foundation for the generous support of these groups. Juli Beattie and Maggie Scott Joint CEOs AT The Bus