Students have been taking part in a project that focuses on using Art to promote Mental Health.

In partnership with Action Factory, Preston College's Student Support has been running a Celebrating Diversity Project over the past year using Art in a fun, creative way to encourage participation.

A number of groups were involved in using Art to express feelings about themselves, their peer group and their feelings about being a part of a College.

The groups included Muslim girls, Vocational Access Painting and Decorating students, International students and Basic Skills students.

Melanie Johnson, a Counsellor at Preston College said, "The ability to create something or make something happen is tremendously beneficial to self-esteem. Creative confidence is the ultimate transferable skill!"

Cath Ford, from Action Factory added, "If a person is confident enough to express their own individual creativity and accept other people's ideas and expressions then we can all work together and celebrate each others diversity."

The Project has been funded and supported by the Mental Health Promotion Grants Scheme Steering Group.

Student Support offers a range of services to support students for the duration of their studies such as Careers Advice, Counselling, Welfare and Housing Advice.