Making Space for Young Women :: The Horsebridge

Community Crowdfunding Campaign

Help young women feel Seen, Heard and Connected through creativity

Making Space – Update

The young women began the Making Space project by working collaboratively, creating opportunities to build confidence, connection and positive relationships between them.
As the project has developed, they have moved on to creating their own artwork, inspired by their individual interests, experiences and personal style. Along the way, they have experimented with an incredible range of mediums, including charcoal, paint, pastels, wire sculpture, plaster casting, Mod Roc, textiles, cyanotypes, photography, film and their own digital work.
We are immensely proud of how far the young women have come. For many of them, at the beginning of the project, reaching for a pencil would have felt like the most natural and comfortable choice. To see them now confidently exploring such a diverse range of materials, techniques and creative processes has been wonderful.
Week by week, we have watched their confidence, creativity and skills grow. More importantly, we have seen them become increasingly willing to take risks, experiment, work with unfamiliar materials and develop their skills through more ambitious and large-scale pieces. Making Space has given them the opportunity not only to explore different forms of art, but also to discover new ways of expressing themselves and to recognise what they are capable of.

At the Horsebridge, we believe creativity can change lives.

Every week we meet people who feel overlooked, young people struggling to fit in at school, isolated teenagers dealing with anxiety and young women carrying pressures they often feel unable to talk about.

This new project is designed especially for young women aged 16–18 who may be struggling with their mental health, confidence or sense of belonging. Working closely with local sixth forms and colleges, we will invite young women, particularly those facing financial disadvantage or emotional challenges, to come together in a safe, welcoming creative space.

Over 14 artist-led sessions, participants will experiment with drawing, photography, collaborative making and creative discussion. Together they will shape the project themselves, creating artwork that reflects their experiences, worries, hopes and identities.

The project is not simply about making art, it is about building confidence, friendships and resilience. It is about helping young women understand that their voices matter.

At the end of the programme, the artwork will be exhibited in a two-week public exhibition at The Horsebridge, celebrating the creativity and courage of the young people involved. The exhibition will also include photographs documenting the journey and peer-led workshops for other local young people.

We know from experience that projects like this can have a profound impact. Creative activity reduces loneliness, supports mental wellbeing and helps people feel part of something bigger than themselves. When young people see their work displayed publicly and appreciated by others, it can completely change how they see themselves.

Meet the Artists Supporting the Project

The project will be led by artist and educator Liz Atkin.

Liz transforms her lived experience of anxiety and Compulsive Skin Picking into powerful drawings, photography and performance work. She is an internationally recognised mental health advocate whose work has helped thousands of people feel less alone.

Her artwork and advocacy archive are held in the Wellcome Collection, and she has taught and exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, Australia, the USA, Singapore and Japan. Liz teaches in schools, hospitals, hospices, prisons, universities and arts venues, using creativity to support wellbeing and connection.

Her work has featured on TEDx, BBC News, Woman’s Hour, Vice, Women’s Health USA, Huffington Post, Metro, Al Jazeera and more.

Supporting the sessions and exhibition curation will be artist and qualified teacher Debra Ivens, an experienced workshop leader who has worked extensively with community groups through the Horsebridge and beyond.

Together, they will create a warm, supportive and inclusive environment where young women can express themselves without judgement.

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