Happy Doodles: Art Workshops for Children

Aim: To raise funds to provide art workshops for children's mental health and well-being in Hull & East Riding.

Hello! I’m Jodie, an Author-Illustrator, Designer, and mother based in East Yorkshire, and I need your help to bring my dream to life!

After years of working in the creative industry from designing greeting cards, childrens fashion prints and childrens picture books (my debut being Bipolar Blob), before the birth of my daughter and shortly after being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, I’ve experienced firsthand how powerful art can be for healing, expression, and reconnecting with joy. Now, I’m building something beautiful from that experience: Happy Doodles, a travelling creative wellbeing start up, delivering inclusive, uplifting art workshops to children, schools, and communities across Hull and East Yorkshire.

💡 What is Happy Doodles?

Happy Doodles is a community-led startup on a mission to support mental wellbeing through creativity. We’ll run:

🎈 Children’s party workshops
🎨 School holiday clubs & after-school sessions
🏫 In-school art & mental health programmes
🫶 Drop-in art & wellbeing sessions for families
💬 Collaborations with youth services & mental health charities

All sessions are rooted in emotional expression, confidence-building, and inclusive creativity, delivered in a safe and supportive environment.

🎯 What Will Your Support Do?

We’re raising £900 to help cover our essential startup costs: (updated 30/06/2025) 

Item                                           Cost

Venue costs: vary between £16-25 p/h, depending on how many workshops per month: e.g. 2 hour venue hire at £17p/h - £34. 3 workshops a week = £102 per week/ £408 per month. 

Art Materials (initial stock) : £200–£300

Public Liability Insurance: £38 p/a (recently discovered A-N's membership thanks to a recommendation) ✅

 
Enhanced DBS Check: £49.50 ✅

 
First Aid Training: £90–£220

Safeguarding Training: £25–£50

Branding & Marketing: Printed and digital flyers/business cards/website ad listings etc : £30–£50/month

Storage for Workshop Supplies   £50–£80

These costs will get Happy Doodles off the ground, allowing me to deliver sessions safely, professionally, and with all the right materials in place.

🌱 What Are the Outcomes?

With your help, we will aim to:

• Reach 500+ children and young people in the first year
• Improve mental wellbeing, confidence, and creative expression
• Strengthen links with local schools, charities, and youth services
• Create safe spaces for children to be seen, supported, and celebrated through creativity.
  
  

🧍‍♀️ Why I’m Doing This

As someone who’s lived through mental ill health, adversity, and poverty, I know how important it is to feel seen and supported. Art has been my lifeline. I want to share that gift with others, especially children who may be facing their own quiet storms.

This project also allows me to take control of my future. As a single mother on benefits, I don’t have access to savings, but I do have passion, purpose, and a vision. I'm building this not only to support others, but to support my daughter and empower her by showing what’s possible, even with a disability, when we ask for help, dream big, and work hard!

The Need:

• 1 in 6 UK children experience mental health difficulties (NHS, 2023), this figure has likely risen.
• Demand on school and CAMHS support is growing.
• In 2025, more than 350,000 children in England are identified as having Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs – and the numbers are still rising. (Source: ChildTherapyService.org)
• Arts can reduce PTSD symptoms by up to 80% (Art Therapy UK)
  
  Children and young people who participate in arts and cultural activities:
• Display less hyperactivity and inattention, and fewer antisocial or criminal behaviours. 
•  Have better prosocial behaviours, such as empathy or helping others.
   Data suggest these benefits may stem from the arts’ ability to support young peoples’ creativity, improve their self-esteem, and support better self-control. (Source: www.sbbresearch.org, Social Biobehavioural Research Group’s research into arts engagement and child health and development.)

💛 How You Can Help

🌟 Donate if you can — even £5 makes a difference
📢 Share this campaign with friends, family & community groups
📬 Introduce me to schools, venues or organisations who might like to collaborate

No matter how you support, thank you for helping bring Happy Doodles to life.
If you would prefer to support with the art materials only, I have created an 'Amazon Wishlist', I would also be grateful for any donations of art materials, recycling such as cardboard/glass jars/buttons/string would be greatly appreciated also! 

Let’s put more joy, colour, and kindness into the world — together.

With warmth and gratitude,
Jodie x

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 27th August 2025 at 2:29pm