Using creative arts to help Thanet’s youth

Pie Factory Music - using creative arts to inspire young people

How do you connect with a young person who’s struggling at school because of circumstances they can’t control?

Pie Factory Music offers free music and arts-related workshops to inspire and influence children and young people in Thanet who are facing difficulties in their lives.

They may be dealing with mental health issues, living with a disability, facing emotional and social difficulties, or are at risk of involvement with gangs and antisocial behaviour.

Through Pie Factory Music they can get involved with everything from song writing and recording to dance and drama.

“It’s a way to develop their creativity, motivation and self-confidence,” explains Pie Factory Music’s Zoë Carassik-Lord.

“More and more research is showing the positive impact creative arts can have on a person’s health and wellbeing. We believe early intervention is key. By engaging children in the early stage of their lives, we provide clear progression routes, positive role models and motivating opportunities for them to pursue.”

Pie Factory Music works with 8 to 19-year-olds, and with young people up to the age of 25 who have special educational needs or a disability.

It runs youth clubs in Thanet and Dover. These are places where young people can participate in a wide range of activities, and receive information and support such in areas such as writing CVs or searching for jobs.

Pie Factory Music is also delivering a series of workshops in Thanet schools thanks to Live Well Kent funding. We’re backing the project through our Innovation Fund because we believe it will help to increase mental health awareness in the area.