Impact Arts secures North Ayrshire Art Therapy funding from RS MacDonald

Tue 24th June 2025

Community arts charity Impact Arts is delighted to have received funding from The RS MacDonald Charitable Trust to deliver Art Therapy to children and families in North Ayrshire.

This funding, alongside contributions from other funders, will be used to deliver a mix of 1:1 work with children, group work, and family approach Art Therapy in both local schools and at our permanent base in Irvine.

About RS MacDonald

The RS Macdonald Charitable Trust awards around £3m to charities every year. The organisation supports charities that are working to benefit people in Scotland, with funding themes including: visual impairment; neurological conditions; tackling child abuse; medical research; animal welfare; and RNLI lifeboats.

Their generous Art Therapy contribution of £42,000 over a period of three years will help us to support 102 children and 18 parents/carers.

Art Therapy delivered by Impact Arts

Art Therapy is a form of expressive psychotherapy, using creative processes to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Art is used as a form of communication and expression, helping children to explore thoughts and feelings, improve mental wellbeing, and process trauma. 

Through activities like painting, drawing, or sculpting, children can communicate feelings that may be difficult to convey with words, guided by a trained Art Therapist.

As a result of Art Therapy, children gain renewed confidence, build resilience, discover a relaxing and enjoyable activity, build stronger relationships, and are better able to express themselves.

Our impact

Impact Arts’ Art Therapy Programme is an award-winning service. We achieved the UK Advancing Healthcare Awards in 2018, the Scottish Government’s Award for “Improving Quality: Measuring and Demonstrating Impact”. 

Through Impact Arts’ Art Therapy work in 2024:

  • 55% reported improved family relationships and 45% identified a significant increase
  • 64% reported an increase in confidence and self-esteem and 27% identified a significant increase
  • 64% reported improved coping skills, including self-regulation, emotional literacy, and a reduction in concerning behaviours, and 18% identified a significant increase

We understand the power of creativity to bring powerful and positive changes to people’s lives, especially where other interventions have failed. Since Impact Arts was established in 1994, we have engaged with participants in 30 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities and with almost 300,000 people. 

Since we were established we have engaged across 30 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities and almost 300,000 people. In 2024/25 so far, Impact Arts has:

  • Delivered 1,291 Art Therapy sessions for 511 children in Glasgow and North Ayrshire
  • Engaged with over 3,400 in creative activities, projects, events and exhibitions
  • Worked with over 442 young people directly through our employability programmes
  • Supported 220 young people to achieve a qualification

We would like to thank you RS MacDonald for their contribution which will help us deliver life-changing Art Therapy to even more children and families in North Ayrshire.

Fund Impact Arts’ programmes in your area

Would your organisation like to contribute to Art Therapy or another Impact Arts programme?

Email development@impactarts.co.uk to discuss with our Development Team.

Commission a project

Would you like to commission a creative project by Impact Arts? We’ve completed a variety of commissions including public art in locations across Central Scotland.

Visit our commissions webpage to learn more and see our creative work.

Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.  

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