Sponsored by Creative Scotland
Sarah Jane Henderson is the creative force behind Spartans Alternative School’s youth work-led art programme, a space where young people who are not in mainstream education can explore creativity on their own terms.
Working with S3 and S4 pupils, Sarah tailors every project to the passions, needs and motivation of each young person, using a trauma-informed and inclusive approach. Many of her students have been excluded from art rooms and CDT workshops due to behaviour seen as “challenging,” but with Sarah, they are artists first — supported, heard, and full of potential.
Her sessions range from spray paint, photography and model making to digital art, film and sewing, always responsive to the young people’s energy and interests. She blends movement and creativity to meet ADHD learners where they are, and uses tools like GoPros and sculpture to spark hands-on engagement. With quiet encouragement and skillful guidance, Sarah nurtures confidence in even the most reluctant artists.
Sarah’s impact doesn’t stop in the art room. She connects creativity to purpose through social enterprise, guiding young people to design, create and sell art products — raising over £1,000 each year for causes they choose, from homelessness charities to veterans’ support. In 2024, this work earned Spartans the Social Enterprise Schools Champion Award.
She also organises gallery visits and creative industry trips, introducing young people to the wider world of arts and employability. Under her mentorship, students have produced prints, mugs, postcards and embroidery, even launching their own Instagram art platform, @theartoffenders.
Sarah Jane Henderson doesn’t just teach art — she transforms lives through creativity, voice and belonging.
Rebecca Horner is redefining what youth work in the arts can look like. As Art Director and co-founder of Comics Youth SCIO, she combines creative brilliance with a deep commitment to empowering young people. Since 2023, she has worked one-to-one with over 120 young people in Dundee — many of whom previously had no access to support or creative outlets.
A skilled cartoonist, colourist and youth worker, Rebecca’s vision has opened doors for marginalised voices to be heard. From mentoring young creators to publish their first comics to helping others return to education or pursue higher study, her work is as transformative as it is inspiring.
Rebecca is also a founding member of Marginal, the UK’s first youth-led publishing house, where she’s supported the creation of over 25 publications that challenge societal misconceptions and centre lived experience. Her cross-sector collaborations with schools, CAMHS, museums, and youth organisations have connected underserved young people to arts, wellbeing and creative learning in new and dynamic ways.
When funding cuts closed down Dundee Comics Creative Space, Rebecca stepped up — co-founding a charity, designing new programmes, and ensuring young people would still have access to spaces where they could belong, be heard, and be creative.
Whether delivering sessions at the McManus Museum, mentoring young artists, or helping neurodivergent young people co-create comics for school transitions, Rebecca makes the extraordinary possible. Her work has inspired the next generation of comics creators, freelance artists — and even youth workers.
As one young person puts it:
“Rebecca empowered me to believe in my abilities and turned my dream into a reality. Now my book is in its second printing. I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Joint Creativity is a pioneering project from Versus Arthritis, created by young people with arthritis for young people with arthritis. Using creativity as a powerful tool for self-expression and self-management, the programme provides a safe and inclusive space for young people aged 10-to-18 to reflect on their identity, build confidence, and break the isolation that can come with a long-term condition.
From art weekends and family workshops to exhibitions, podcasts and publications, Joint Creativity celebrates every kind of artistic voice — and every kind of ability. The project’s inclusive and youth-led approach removes barriers and builds a creative community where difference is welcomed and self-belief is nurtured.
Each year, young people choose a new theme for the programme. This year’s theme, Inside Arthritis, brought together artists, rheumatologists and researchers in a trailblazing partnership. Through sculpture, illustration and animation, young people explored the biology of their immune systems — learning more about their health while building their creative skills. It’s art meets patient education, with a youth work approach at its heart.
The project’s annual exhibitions — hosted in spaces like the Scottish Parliament and the British Society for Rheumatology conference — don’t just showcase powerful artworks; they raise awareness, challenge stigma, and spark change at the highest levels.
Young people say Joint Creativity helps them feel seen, supported and understood. It gives them space to express their stories, explore what their diagnosis means to them, and connect with others going through similar experiences. For some, it’s been a lifeline.
As one participant shares:
“It helped me realise I am more than just my condition. I’ve made amazing friends and learned new ways to deal with challenges — all while having fun and being creative.”
With art at its heart and youth voice leading the way, Joint Creativity proves that creativity can change how young people live with long-term conditions — and how they see themselves.