Imaginosity, a project at Mill Hill School, Northallerton, that uses creativity, imagination and curiosity to improve outcomes for children and young people, is continuing – and expanding – through a new partnership with North Yorkshire arts charity, Rural Arts.
Established and funded by Wykeland Group in 2018, Imaginosity has developed into a vital programme at the school, particularly during the pandemic. The project has even been recognised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who in 2021 praised the project’s “fantastic contribution”.
In November 2022, Imaginosity found a new home at Rural Arts thanks to a partnership between Wykeland Group, arts and health consultant Elaine Burke and Hambleton District Council. Wykeland Group and the Council are both investing £50,000 into the project. This additional investment will enable the project to continue at Mill Hill and expand to another primary school in Hambleton from September 2023.
The Imaginosity project harnesses the power of imagination, supporting children to think creatively across the whole school curriculum and connecting them positively to their local community. The project is targeted at disadvantaged pupils, who will most benefit from support to increase emotional resilience, aspiration, parental engagement, and to connect with the wider community. The project embeds creativity into everyday school life, as well as providing weekly sessions where children mix across all year groups to explore topics and themes.