Lucy Sicks speaks to Alex Voskou.
Authentic. That’s the first word that comes to mind as Lucy Sicks, founder of LIFEbeat, introduces herself to our People and Culture team and Wellbeing and Engagement committee.
Then, right on cue, she uses the word twice within the first few seconds: “Our young people are au- thentic,” she says. “We’re authentic in everything we do.” There’s no arguing with that, I think to myself.
The pandemic was difficult for all of us, but it was brutal for young people stuck indoors and deprived of their principal emotional, social and creative outlets. Equally, LIFEbeat was prevented from doing what it does best, at a time when it was needed most. But they’re more than making up for lost time, with their creative, mentoring and wellbeing programmes now fully up and running.
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How LIFEbeat was born
It’s been 15 years since Lucy founded LIFEbeat. It might initially seem that working with young people is a bit of a jump from an English Literature degree and a career in the arts, but for Lucy, it was the natural convergence of several factors. “Before LIFEbeat, I was the Director of the London Arts Fair,” she explains. “I have a big creative background, and the role was about creating community in the arts scene. Then I reached a crossroads – I could go on to develop another type of art fair or do what I really wanted to do and work with people. That’s why I retrained as a therapist.” Lucy’s work in the arts led her to American treatment models, which “used creativity to help young people express themselves, connect with their souls and understand the purpose, the beauty and the depth of life.” While teaching at therapy college, Lucy discovered how young people need safe communities where they can tell stories and connect with each other. Then she met Charlie Murphy, who ran camps in the States – and yes, the rest is history. “We set up LIFEbeat together to hold those camps and create a UK-adapted community for young people. They brought together the creativity piece, the arts piece and the therapy piece, which through experience I think makes the difference.”
CREDIT - PEXELS
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