The art of inspiring vulnerable children

Arts Therapies for Children (ATFC) is one of the community’s newest and most dynamic charities, focusing on providing tailored personal support to some of our most vulnerable children.

Since 2017, ATFC has been providing trained Art Therapists in a broad cross-section of our primary schools, and is currently running active programmes in 15 schools with a further three on the waiting list.

Tim Anders, Art Psychotherapist and founder of Arts Therapies for Children (ATFC) explains: “There are so many of our children experiencing severe hardships affecting their mental health with little to no support. Issues these kids face daily would be difficult for an adult, and they have to brave it alone.”

ATFC provides children with a trained, registered and experienced arts therapist who helps them express themselves naturally and safely, in order to make sense of their mostly troubled lives and move on to become fully functioning, healthy adults.

Dr Alan Hirschowitz, chair of the Board of Trustees, adds: “We have the best art therapists. We have the best supervisors. We have the schools and the children crying out for help. But the one thing we don’t have is the funding. It’s the only thing stopping us from helping more children.

“ATFC aims to further expand its offering both in terms of how many children it helps and the number of schools it works with, but can only do this with additional financial support. The parent of a former client reflects on his experience with ATFC: I am very grateful and happy that our son was chose to benefit from this amazing and very important project and hope that you find continued funding.”

• Contact Nicole@artstherapies.org.uk for further information and visit our website to learn more of what we do and how you can help. Website: www.artstherapies.org.uk