Turn the Page - Comics Youth CIC
Comics Youth is a youth-led organisation that delivers comics-based literacy, publishing, and wellbeing projects to children and young people aged 8 to 25 who experience extreme marginalisation. (Marginalisation refers to being placed in a position of little or no importance, influence, or power.)
The organisation's mission is to provide creative opportunities for marginalised young people to speak truth to power and have their voices heard. Comics Youth achieves this by enabling young people to create digital and physical publications that address salient community and lived experience issues.
The organization works with marginalised youth, including LGBTQIA+ and non-binary individuals, young people experiencing complex trauma or mental ill-health, those hospitalised with chronic or terminal illnesses, ethnically diverse young people, and young individuals with neurodivergence, special education needs, and/or disabilities.
Turn the Page Project
The ‘Turn the Page’ Comics Project offers a person-centered approach to proactive and reactive support for young people aged 16 to 25 who experience symptoms of anxiety or depression in the Merseyside area. Through this project, young people can engage with creative comic book and zine-based opportunities, benefiting from the narrative power of comics and art. The project provides two main types of support:
Reactionary Support:
One-to-one sessions, either digital or face-to-face at Comics Youth's Hamilton Square headquarters, are tailored to meet individual access needs. These sessions allow young adults who may struggle in group settings to create autobiographical comics. Over 6-8 weeks, participants work with a trained comics illustrator to author personal comics that explore their lived experiences. This process encourages inner self-expression, create resilience, and enables them to process memories productively through sequential art.Preventative Community Support:
The project includes two 8-week ‘Zinester’ cohorts. These group-based workshops focus on creating zines and comics about issues such as reducing isolation, managing anxiety, and addressing the stigma around personal experiences.
Comics Youth accepts both referrals and self-referrals to ensure accessibility for young adults with anxiety and/or depression.
Details
Target Audience: Young people aged 16 to 25
Location: Make CIC, 69-71 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 6LQ
Cost: Free. Financial assistance for travel costs is available if needed.
How to Get Involved
Young people can get involved by filling out the referral form on the Comics Youth website. For inquiries, the team can be contacted via:
Phone: 07983464702 or 07525 369624
Further information about Comics Youth CIC can be found on their website or Facebook page.