The Arts Group (TAG) Project
In 2006 a group of volunteers working closely with Calderdale Youth Offending Team (YOT) looked at ways of reaching young people who found themselves the wrong side of the law or at risk of. The group known as ‘TAG’ (The Arts Group) have received funding from Awards for All and the Local Network Fund to carry out their work.



Geoff Welton of TAG said “We recognise that for many reasons our target group are not easy to engage however, evidence is beginning to show that the arts can be a good way through which young people can address their issues without putting them in the spotlight.”

TAG’s first project involved the creation of sensory boxes for disabled children. Artists included a storyteller from Alaska, Brett Dillingham who is widely recognised in the field of youth offending and has worked all over the western world, Weston Hammond a visual artist who helped young people to make objects for the storyboxes and Chris Davies, a musician who helped create soundscapes.



The artists worked over a number of weeks with young people to complete reparation. Reparation is a chance for young people to make amends for the effect of their actions. The second project involved creating postcards and posters to try to help break down barriers between young offenders and the community, these will be distributed in the near future.

One young person who took part stated that “I got more out of this than if I’d just have been picking up litter” and another said they’d enjoyed creating work that would be share with other young people.

The work created will soon be on display and the project is currently being evaluated by the University of Central Lancashire.

For further information on the project please contact Christine McMahon on 01422 288219 or email christine.mcmahon@calderdale.gov.uk