Creative Communities Creating Change (4Cs)
Supporting community-based wellbeing through powerful, preventative and creative intervention.
Creative Communities Creating Change (4Cs) is a new Creative Health programme which has been funded for 3 years to support young people aged 11–19 and parents and carers across Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon. Launching in April 2026, the programme is based at Raw Material’s community hub in Brixton and combines creative practice, community-based support and evidence-informed wellbeing approaches.
The programme responds to the growing need for accessible, community-based mental health and wellbeing support for young people and families.
4Cs is delivered through three connected strands:
Creative programmes for young people
Support for parents and carers
A participatory research project reimagining mental health support
Together these strands aim to improve mental, emotional and social wellbeing, strengthen social connections and support sustained engagement in arts and culture.
4Cs is delivered through a partnership between Raw Material, NHS DISCOVER, NHS EPEC (Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities), Tony Cealy and London Arts and Health.
Youth
4Cs offers young people aged 11–19 the chance to create, experiment and develop their skills through a range of creative programmes at Raw Material’s studios and creative spaces.
Sessions take place in Raw Material’s professional music studios and creative spaces, where participants can take part in activities such as music production, songwriting, creative writing, visual arts and collaborative projects. Alongside creative learning, the programme also includes evidence-based personal development workshops designed to support emotional wellbeing, resilience and healthy coping strategies.
You don’t need previous experience in music or the arts to take part — just curiosity and a willingness to try something new.
All sessions are delivered in a welcoming and supportive environment where young people can express themselves, build confidence and develop creative and practical skills.
Through participation, young people can:
Improve mental, emotional and social wellbeing
Build confidence and stronger connections with others
Develop creative and practical skills
Stay connected to arts and culture in their community
Access additional wellbeing support if and when they need it
Imprints
Writing From Experience
Imprints is a collaborative music production, songwriting & personal-development programme.
Ages: 16-19
Launching in Autumn
Young Producers
Electronic Music Production
Young Producers course is all about giving young people access to advanced production equipment, giving them the skills and confidence to create their own music and begin their own creative journey in music.
Ages: 11-15
Launching in April
In The Mix
Peer Feedback On Work-In-Progress Tracks
In The Mix provides young creatives the chance to connect, share and work towards their projects in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Ages: 16-19*
Launching in April
*Please note that this programme runs in conjunction with our general programme which includes participants aged 16-25.
Arts & Crafts
Imaginative Craft & Creation
This course is designed to offer participants a fun, relaxing and creative environment where they can explore various arts and crafts projects.
Ages: 11-15
Launching in Autumn
Studio sessions (1-1 & Group Work)
Vocal Recording & Production
1-1 studio sessions function as a drop-in for artists looking to refine their sound and skills in the studio, and will take place throughout the term.
Group studio sessions take the form of a 5-week cumulative programme in which a facilitator teaches the basics of studio recording and production techniques with a view to participants finishing the programme with a finalised track. Group Work Sessions run as a 5-week programme in the second half of the term.
Both 1-1 and Group Work sessions take place in our industry standard recording studio space. and are led by a professional engineer.
Ages: 16-19
Launching in April
Co-Lab
Collaborative music making
Co-Lab brings together young, aspiring artists to collaborate and create original songs.
Ages: 16-19*
Launching in April
*Please note that this programme runs in conjunction with our general programme which includes participants aged 16-25.
DISCOVER
CBT-informed Wellbeing workshop
A programme of evidence-based workshops which support young people to build resilience, develop healthy coping tools and manage stress, worry and low mood.
Ages: 16-19
Launching in Autumn
Parents & Carers
4Cs also offers support for parents and carers of teenagers, recognising the important role families play in supporting young people’s emotional wellbeing.
The programme includes Living with Teenagers, an evidence-based parenting programme delivered through the NHS EPEC (Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities) model. Running over ten weeks, the programme provides practical tools, peer support and guided discussion to help parents and carers navigate the challenges of raising teenagers.
Built into the programme is Mindful Music — a collaborative, improvisatory music-making session where participants create music together in a relaxed and supportive environment. The session offers parents and carers an opportunity to experience the wellbeing benefits of creative participation while connecting with others.
Together these sessions aim to strengthen relationships with teenagers, build confidence in supporting young people’s wellbeing and connect parents and carers with community support networks.
Living With Teenagers
Parental Support Sessions
A structured parenting programme which empowers parents and carers with practical skills, confidence and peer support to strengthen relationships and support their teenagers. As part of the programme, participants will also take part in a Mindful Music session at Raw Material.
Launching in April
Collaborative Performance & Design Thinking Research Project
The Mending Room is an innovative participatory action-research strand of the 4Cs programme, led by Tony Cealy.
The project brings together young people, parents, health professionals, and adults with lived experience of systems such as CAMHS, education exclusion and community mental health services. In the Mending Room, participants become the Menders, using their talents, skills and knowledge working together to explore how pathways to Improved mental health and wellbeing could be reimagined and redesigned.
Using theatre and speculative design thinking methods, Menders investigate key issues, develop ideas and test new approaches through collaborative workshops, performances, exhibitions and community conversations. The process encourages experimentation, dialogue and learning through doing.
The Mending Room goes beyond consultation. It creates a space where lived experience actively informs policy development and contributes to wider conversations around system change and how mental health and wellbeing support can become more inclusive, community-based and responsive to the needs of young people and families.
Insights from this work help shape the ongoing development of 4Cs and contribute to broader learning about Creative Health practice and community-led wellbeing support.
The Mending Room
Participatory Research Project
A participatory innovation programme bringing together young people, families, practitioners and decision-makers to creatively explore and reimagine pathways to mental health and wellbeing support.
Launching in April
4Cs is delivered through a partnership between Raw Material, NHS DISCOVER, NHS EPEC (Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities), Tony Cealy and London Arts and Health.
Sign Up
Registration possible from 1st April 2026