Surrey children thrive through art in mental health funded programme | News centre

Children’s colourful artwork is currently on display at Chertsey Museum until Saturday 28th, celebrating the success of a schools-based arts and wellbeing programme joint funded by NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB and Surrey County Council through the Mental Health Investment Fund (MHIF). The exhibition showcases the work of Year 4 children from Pyrcroft Grange Primary School following their Delight in Art Rainforest Retreat programme.

The Delight Charity received £104,496 from the MHIF to deliver their Delight in Art programme over 20 months in Guildford, Spelthorne and Runnymede. During that period, 632 children from 21 classes across seven schools took part, supported by 21 teachers. The programme reached 566 parents and caregivers, with 210 children from other year groups attending end-of-programme exhibitions and 118 children and 81 adults participating in community art and wellbeing sessions.

While the MHIF-funded phase has now concluded, the impact of Delight in Art is continuing and expanding. The programme has secured five years of support through the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund, enabling the programme to reach even more schools and families across Surrey. As part of this phase, Delight's visual arts partner Hannah Maiya-Mills, founder of Surrey-based arts organisation Paintbox, is training teachers to embed creative wellbeing approaches more widely, extending the programme’s long-term reach.

Rainforest Retreat runs over six weeks in primary schools, where children work with professional artists to explore different materials and techniques. Classrooms are transformed into immersive rainforest environments filled with handmade leaves, birds and insects. Alongside learning about the natural world, children develop confidence, resilience and pride in their work. “My bird was a dazzling glowing light,” wrote Molly, Year 4, about her artwork.

Teachers reported noticeable improvements in pupils’ confidence, focus and engagement, and in some cases school attendance, particularly among children who receive additional support. At the end of the six weeks, parents were invited to exhibitions of their children’s work, helping to strengthen relationships between caregivers and teaching staff and extend the benefits beyond the classroom.

One teacher reflected:

I’ve never seen him work so hard. His confidence has grown, not just in art but across other lessons too. He’s more willing to have a go and believes in himself. The exhibition gave him such a sense of pride.

A child who took part shared:

I found it very fun and felt really proud after all the extraordinary things that I made. It made me feel happy and calm.

Dr Charlotte Caniff, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Surrey Heartlands, said:

The Mental Health Investment Fund supported a programme that made a meaningful difference to hundreds of children and families. It is particularly encouraging to see this work continuing through the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund, enabling even more schools to benefit. Creative programmes like Delight in Art provide safe spaces for children to express themselves, build resilience and strengthen their emotional wellbeing. Early support of this kind is vital.

Councillor Mark Nuti, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing & Public Health, added:

This programme shows the value of investing in prevention and early intervention for children and young people’s mental health. Initiatives like Delight in Art help build confidence, resilience and stronger school communities, creating positive foundations that support lifelong wellbeing across Surrey.

MHIF is a joint fund with Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership and is part of the county's No One left Behind agenda.