In autumn 2024, a group of SPARK’s cultural partner organisations worked in collaboration with SPARK’s Youth Arts Ambassadors to engage young people in the history of mental health, using insights from the heritage site of Stanley Royd Hospital (formerly the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum) held within the collections of the Mental Health Museum. Humanising Mental Health, involved a group of 22 participants, who gathered and researched historical stories of patient’s lived experience of the asylum. The project, which was funded by a Wakefield Council Culture Grant, culminated in seven pieces of theatre and an exhibition of visual art, all created and performed by young people. The work was shared with audiences at three events in January 2025.
Background
Stanley Royd Hospital, a mental health facility known from 1818 to 1948 as the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum, is an important part of Wakefield’s heritage. The hospital closed in 1995 and has since been redeveloped into residential flats. Artefacts from the site, and stories of its former residents are now held by The Mental Health Museum, situated nearby at Fieldhead Hospital in Wakefield.
The hospital site and the museum collections were of great interest to SPARK’s Youth Arts Ambassadors, who were eager to uncover individual stories of its patients and explore the parallels between the treatment of mental health today and in the past. The young people aimed to find ways to tell these stories creatively, and ‘wanted people to care about mental health’ by connecting with
previously untold stories to bring to life the long and complex history of mental health. As a small museum with limited staff capacity, the Mental Health Museum was eager to engage with young people to uncover new stories and increase the relevance of its curation to a new audience. Working in partnership through SPARK provided this opportunity.
“I was drawn to this project because of my deep interest in mental health, particularly how it’s understood and supported within society. As someone who works closely with children with additional needs, I wanted to explore creative ways to raise awareness and challenge stigma.” (YAA)
The Approach
Following an introductory tour of the Stanley Royd site by staff from the Mental Health Museum, the Youth Arts Ambassadors worked together with the museum and SPARK partners, Yew Tree Arts, Yew Tree Youth Theatre and Empath Theatre to write a funding bid to Wakefield Council. The ideas and direction of the project came from the young people, with SPARK’s Youth Voice coordinator there to guide and facilitate when necessary.
The project had two primary strands – a research element, during which the young people worked with museum staff and volunteer historians from Empath Theatre to research stories related to the hospital site; and a creative element, developing story-telling skills to create, produce and perform artistic work using the research that was uncovered, and share this with a wider audience.
In order to develop the necessary skills and create the desired outputs, the young people attended a series of 22 half-day workshops between October 2024 and January 2025, focused on research, story telling and creative practice, including script writing and performance. Sessions were delivered and supported by creatives including researchers, drama practitioners and a citizen journalist.
Outputs
Working together, the 22 participants, with the support of six creatives and three volunteers, created seven pieces of theatre and an exhibition of visual artwork. These were presented to audiences at Westgate Studios as part of Art Walk Wakefield on 29th January 2025 and at Treacey Hall, Wakefield Cathedral on 31st January.
The performances were well-received by a total audience of 60 over the three shows. Sharing their work with an audience was the highlight of the project for many of those involved.
“The response of the audience to the young people’s performances was a highlight for me.” (Project coordinator)
“I’m most proud of how we balanced historical facts with creative expression to provoke thought and empathy in the audience.” (YAA)
Outcomes
Impact on Young People
In addition to the enjoyment gained from creating and performing their work, the project brought many longer-term benefits to the young people involved. Firstly, they developed a range of skills in both historical research and creative practices such as playwriting, direction and performance. For some this involved delving into an area of artistic practice that they had never done before, which brought a degree of challenge but also a sense of achievement and new-found confidence in their abilities.
“Having never written or directed a play before, being able to have the opportunity to try something like that was incredibly valuable. Personally, I didn’t think it was something I could ever do, but learning more about the process, working with my wonderful actors, and seeing it all come together for the performances was immensely gratifying. It has definitely encouraged me to try more creative projects in the future.” (YAA)
On a personal level, those involved deepened their understanding of mental health and its history and their empathy towards those impacted both in the present and past. Additionally, the project helped the young people to build new relationships and connections with others, bringing a sense of belonging and purpose.
“We found in this project a sort of identification with a history and a heritage that was both very real and very personal. That is partly from the research, but also from the process of creating something informed by that research.” (YAA)
There was an inter-generational element to the project too, as the young people worked with Empath Action’s researchers, who mentored the young people and guided them in developing historical research skills.
“The project helped me feel more connected to others with similar values and interests. It created a sense of belonging and purpose within a supportive, creative community.” (YAA)
Organisational Impact
Humanising Mental Health helped to further the SPARK Youth Arts Ambassadors’ overall ambition of making Wakefield’s creative and cultural offer more relevant and accessible to young people. Through the project, SPARK developed a strong relationship with the Mental Health Museum, helping their collection to reach a new audience of Wakefield’s young people.
The project also grew the range of work and the diversity of SPARK’s Youth Arts Ambassador board. This size of the project was a step up for the group, whose previous projects since their inception in summer 2023, have focused more on the organisation and production of events, rather than the co creation of their own artistic work. During the project the ten Youth Arts Ambassadors worked with twelve other young people, and as a result two of these young people have now joined the group on a permanent basis. This has broadened the diversity of the group and the range of interests of its members.
Through this project, the Youth Arts Ambassadors also reached a wider public audience and raised the profile of SPARK’s Youth Voice strand. The group established a relationship with Wakefield Art Walk and performances were well attended by SPARK Steering Group members from organisations including Wakefield College, The National Coal Mining Museum, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Wakefield Museums and Castles.
Another important outcome of the project was the development of new relationships and partnerships between individuals from cultural organisations in Wakefield district with common aims and ambitions. Both Empath Theatre and the Mental Health Museum are organisations that worked with SPARK for the first time during this project. Working with other like-minded practitioners to develop young people’s skills and provide new opportunities for them, was a highlight for the project co ordinator, who felt that this also helped to grow her own creative practice.
“A key element of the benefits for me in developing practice was the partnership with Empath Action and other practitioners involved. In creating work together in true partnership, the rewards were significant.” (Project Coordinator)
For SPARK as a partnership, the project also brought conversations about its strategic aims to the forefront, showing the importance of working on collaborative projects in order to secure funding, but also raising the question of how this can be sustained on a longer-term basis without core funding to finance the project coordinator role.
Lessons Learned
With a limited budget for hiring performance venues, challenges arose during this project when initial plans to perform the work at the Stanley Royd site and within the Mental Health Museum were unsuccessful. New venues were found, thanks to the resourcefulness of the project coordinator and the ability to draw on connections made through the SPARK partnership, showing the importance of careful planning.
This project also highlighted the challenges faced when working on a project with multiple elements, a sensitive subject matter and a group of young people with a variety of needs. A range of opportunities had to be offered to ensure the project was as inclusive as possible for those wanting to engage. The funding enabled six creatives to work with the young people, offering consistent support and opportunities to nurture their creativity and talent. The reward was an inclusive and meaningful
project that allowed young people to develop a wealth of new skills.
“It was emotionally challenging to engage with the difficult history of mental health treatment…. I coped by sharing feelings within the group and channelling the emotion into my writing and performance. Balancing work commitments was another challenge, but I stayed organised and motivated because the project felt so meaningful.” (YAA)
Project Legacy
The connections formed between individuals and organisations involved in Humanising Mental Health are already resulting in further collaborative creative and cultural projects involving young people. Empath Theatre was able to secure funding from Live Well to extend the project and involve further participants, which will result in additional research and a new performance of work in October 2025. This is allowing young people to build on the skills learnt during the first part of the project and find ways to fulfil their artistic ambitions.
“The foundations built in the Culture Grant funded phase of Humanising Mental Health both in terms of the investment in Wakefield District practitioners and young people and the artwork produced are going to have the opportunity to expand and develop significantly.” Project coordinator)
Some of the Youth Arts Ambassadors also have the opportunity to be involved in a new project with Empath Theatre later in 2025, developing creative work around the heritage of mining sites in the Wakefield district, with a focus on those that have been reclaimed as nature reserves.