National award for Angus Expressive Arts Project

The award was won by a team comprising DD8 Music, the Vibrant Communities Team and Showcase the Street.

DD8 Music was among the local groups which won a national award in recognition of their contribution towards the well-being of young people in Angus.

Angus Council’s Vibrant Communities team and Showcase the Street shared the National Youth Work Award for Art and Creativity at the recent Youthlink awards.

During the pandemic, the partners formed Angus Expressive Arts Project to support the emerging needs of young people in the Angus area.

Detached youth work informed the basis of the project, highlighting worsening or new mental health difficulties for young people. Using a combination of specialisms in music, art, drama, virtual reality programmes and dance, the project enabled young people to understand and express what they had experienced during the pandemic.

Across all programmes, more than 250 young people engaged with the Angus Expressive Arts project and reported improved confidence, self-esteem, an ability to express emotions and a reduction in feelings of loneliness and isolation.

As Youthlink Scotland said: "Another truly amazing example of youth work’s resilience, innovation and ability to respond to young people’s needs."