‘EXPLORING young people’s identity and wellbeing’ will be the theme of a young people’s exhibition that has launched in Bradford.

The event, at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, will remain open until Autumn of this year.

The exhibition has been curated by the Healthy Minds apprentices, working alongside project workers at All Star Entertainment - who break down barriers on young people accessing music making opportunities - and in partnership with Bradford District Museums and Galleries, it is an engaging and thought-provoking exhibition.

The Healthy Minds apprentices are a group of young people who educate children and young people to look after their mental health, and help them to access support by visiting the Healthy Minds website. The website is run by Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership and Mind in Bradford.

The exhibition gives an insight into how children and young people are affected by mental health, their coping mechanisms, and how they celebrate the small wins.

Therese Patten, chief executive for Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust and chairman for the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership Board for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Neurodiversity, said: “The exhibition will use creative and personalised ways to capture children and young people’s opinions, thoughts, views, and experiences of mental health.

“The Healthy Minds apprentices have collaborated with a number of partners across the district, and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved and supported this exhibition.

“I would encourage people of all ages to visit the exhibition. It shows children and young people’s mental health journey in a visual way; which others might be able to relate to.”

Ali, Healthy Minds Apprentice, said: “All the apprentices and people involved have worked hard to take the exhibition off the ground. We want to thank Bradford District Museums and Galleries for backing it and giving us this opportunity to showcase the work we are doing around promoting mental health.

“There will be a number of exhibits for people to view, some of which include a poetry wall which features writing by young people across the district, LGBTQAI+ art installation, and a photography wall showing the highs and lows of a young person’s mental health journey.

“We’ve partnered with Born in Bradford: Age of Wonder, Young in Covid, Bradford Council’s Youth Service, Youth in Mind, primary and secondary schools across the district, these are only some of the partners that have helped with this exhibition.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's executive member for Healthy People and Places, said: “Our young people are at the heart of everything we do and they played a key role in helping the Bradford district win the UK City of Culture 2025.

"This exhibition highlights the talent and creativity of our young people and why we value their unique insights on really tough topics. It’s really exciting to see how the Healthy Minds apprentices have teamed up with other children and young people across the district to help.

“This exhibition shows the reality of what children and young people experience and their mental health journeys. People visiting the exhibition, will have a unique insight into what mental health can look like for children and young people.

"It can be difficult to articulate what mental ill-health can feel like, and this exhibition will help people in discovering and understanding what others may be going through.”

*Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership is

the health and care partnership for Bradford district and Craven.

Its health and care partnership for Bradford District and Craven serves a population of around 650,000 people with a health and care workforce of around 33,000 supported by over 5,000 voluntary and community sector organisations and groups. The partnership is made up of NHS, local authority, Healthwatch, community and voluntary sector organisations and independent care providers.

*Organisations and individuals who have helped / supported the young people’s mental health exhibition: Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, Youth In Mind, Born In Bradford, Bradford Council, Young In Covid, Bradford 2025, Young Dynamos (Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust), Bradford Youth Service, Equity Partnership, National Literacy Trust Programme, Through Our Lens, Scholemoor Beacon, Common Space, Youth Music, All Star, MYMUP, Shipley College, Hoyle Court Primary School, Baildon, Fearnville Primary School, Laisterdyke, Shirley Manor Primary School, Wyke, Crossflats Primary School, Bingley, Belle Vue Girls , Heaton, Carlton Bolling, Undercliffe, Tong Leadership Academy, Co-op The Grange and University Academy Keighley.

*healthyminds.services