The Big Heart Project
A central hub for creativity and community, a space to play, heal, and grow.
The Big Heart Project encompasses all our Art and Wellbeing programmes for young people.
We are working towards establishing The Big Heart Art Centre. A central hub where creativity, community, and care converge and would be home for all our Creative Arts Therapy, and Art and Well-being programmes, such as Ceramics groups, and holiday clubs designed to support youth and children affected by trauma and ACEs in the Dundee and Tayside region, promoting emotional literacy and regulation using creative expression. While we work towards the vision of a permanent residence for this centre we continue to deliver these programmes across Dundee and Tayside meeting the needs where they are needed.
Our Services
1
Ceramics for Youth
Exploring the therapeutic benefits of clay. A Free 8-week Pottery and Wellbeing Group for ages 12-17. This programme teaches the practical skills and techniques of hand building ceramics, including functional pottery, glazing and firing. While also providing a safe and creative space to Build confidence and self-esteem, express feelings safely and improve social skills. The Group is catered towards teens who have a keen interest in creative arts and who may be feeling anxious, struggling with confidence, self-esteem, or find friendships and socialising difficult.
2
Big Heart Holiday Club
The Big Heart Holiday Art Club is a creative arts programme providing a safe, nurturing space for children during school holidays a time when many vulnerable young people lose access to routine, structure, and supportive relationships. Our Easter 2026 programme brought together 20 children from 5 different Dundee primary schools, including a group of young carers who welcomed the opportunity to simply be children: free to play, create, and express themselves away from the weight of their responsibilities at home.
3
Art Therapy
Art Therapy allows individuals to express and make sense of thoughts and emotions through painting, drawing, and other visual media. No artistic skill is needed it's about expression, not the final product. We run offer these sessions to children with referrals. As well as Young mums through our new Big Heart Little Arts programme. Art Therapists are HCPC-registered and complete a Master's level qualification. They are supported by the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT).
70 children have already attended our Big Heart Project Programmes in 2026 so far including our October and Easter Holidays clubs and our ceramics programme for teens. Improving confidence, building new skills, socialising, learning through play and creatively exploring.
We're currently planning our Big Heart Summer Programme funded by Youth Link Scotland, which includes, a 2 week programme for ages 5-11 and 2 weeks for age 12-17. Introducing a range of art techniques including print, paint, 3d making, clay and storytelling, building confidence, skills and socialising in community. They will also be working towards a final showcase to celebrate their work and accomplishments with friends, family and their community at the end of the 2 weeks.
We will also be starting our new mother and baby programme 'Big Heart Little Arts' in August 2026 which offers a creative therapeutic programmes to mothers as well as offering a Art and wellbeing programme to their children at the same time. With childcare woven into the programme to remove barriers that some Mother's face to receiving support. At FLOC we believe in early intervention and that 'When a mum is emotionally supported, her children flourish too." (Donna Jennings, Founder and director). This Project has been fully funded for 3 years and we are excited to support 60-70 Mothers and their children through this programme across Tayside
"The team all went over and above in terms of their commitment, support, kindness and encouragement to our budding artists."
— Community Liaison Officer, at school during our Big Heart Holiday Club 2026
