Children and young people in the UK are enduring a wellbeing crisis. Our teenagers record the lowest levels of life satisfaction in Europe, and one-in-four of our 19-year-olds has a probable mental disorder. The crisis comes at a huge human cost, with too many children and young people across the country feeling persistently unhappy and unwell. But it delivers a significant economic cost too, with our public services and our schools coming under enormous pressure. 

However, while the challenge is considerable, it isn’t inevitable. Growing evidence highlights the benefits of engaging in early intervention that can support young people’s cognitive and emotional development, with activities such as drawing, singing, acting and music-making emerging as especially powerful means of laying the foundations for better wellbeing. 

And yet, too many young people continue to find their access to arts and culture constrained by funding cuts in schools and by uneven provision. Children from lower income backgrounds appear to be especially disadvantaged. 

Hence, there remains a need to further build the evidence base on the impact of the arts, and to better connect it into policy discussions. In that context, PBE’s new analysis for Factory International offers a compelling case for change. 

The Factory Schools programme empowers secondary school students in the Greater Manchester area by fostering creativity and wellbeing through arts and culture. During the 10-month programme, students take part in weekly sessions with artists, ending in a final celebration that showcases their work. 

Join us to hear from economists, educators, academics and young people on what the programme involved, how it was evaluated and its (impressive) economic impact.  

Speakers will include:  

• Sameed Rezayan – Head of Creative Learning, Factory International  
• Maliha Rahanaz – Economist, PBE  
• Neil Humphrey – Professor of Psychology of Education, #BeeWell, Manchester University  

About Factory International:  

Factory International is a global arts organisation based in Manchester – the creative force behind Aviva Studios, a major new cultural space built for cross-disciplinary work, and the biennial Manchester International Festival (MIF). It commissions and produces original artistic work across art forms, supports artists and communities, and trains the next generation of creatives. Its Factory Schools programme empowers Greater Manchester secondary students by fostering creativity and wellbeing through arts and culture. Students take part in weekly sessions with artists, culminating in a final celebration that showcases their work. The programme aims to build resilience, aspirations, and social-emotional skills through meaningful engagement with cultural experiences.