Victoria Park Ashford – Kent Young Carers

Outdoor Studios are delighted to be partnering with the Imago charity and Kent young Carers to provide a series of activities over the summer, funded by the Kent Community Foundation. Artist maker Gemma Gottelier started the session by leading 14 participants from the Ashford Young Carers group aged 8 to 15 under a lovely shady tree near the sensory garden and pond area of Victoria Park, exploring clay making techniques, aromatherapy and mindfulness in nature.

The aim of the session was to provide the young carers with a positive creative wellbeing multi-sensory experience in a beautiful outdoor setting, creating a welcoming, warm and safe space for them to connect with nature, themselves, their creativity & each other. Participants developed skills, built confidence and felt uplifted. They mindfully and physically adventured through the Sensory Garden – drawing, spotting wildlife and foraging for plants to use in their making.

All the young carers displayed great energy and enthusiasm for the activities and were proud of their creations, displaying their pieces for photos and some wanting to wear them. There was a sense of achievement from the group and they enjoyed exploring the wildlife of the garden and choosing plants they liked at the start of the session. Participants were happy at the end of the activity – some of the more shy members of the group noticeably mor engaged afterwards.

Comments from the Young Carers:

Highlights for me were picking the flowers, a butterfly landing on me. Meeting people in the same situation.
I got to meet others. There was a girl, we got along well and she’s starting my school in September, so I hope we can be friends.
I liked the aromatherapy aspect. We are going to look into scents that might help with self care.