Acting Up! · Creative early intervention for young people
JULIAN CAMPBELLFOUNDATIONEmpowering Young People to Manage Their WellbeingDrama · Mood awareness · Confidence
Acting Up!
A high-energy workshop where young people learn to notice, name and navigate their moods.
Designed for every young person—not only those already asking for support—Acting Up! makes emotional wellbeing practical, memorable and safe to explore together.
LEARN BYDOING
The four mood states
Energy changes. Feelings shift. Skills help.
Through movement, observation and reflection, young people explore how quickly we can move between four familiar mood states—sometimes in the blink of an eye.
What happens in the room
Notice. Reflect. Choose.
Detect the mood
Young people observe body language, energy and expression to identify how a friend may be feeling.
Reflect it safely
Drama gives the group a playful, structured way to recognise and mirror different emotional states.
Change the direction
Together, they identify realistic actions that could help someone move towards a more manageable mood.
Psychodrama · Role-play · Reflection
A safe space to rehearse real life.
Young people face complicated friendships, social pressure, boundaries and difficult choices every day. Through carefully facilitated psychodrama and role-play, Acting Up! allows them to explore those situations at a safe distance—without having to disclose personal experiences or get everything right the first time.
They can pause a scene, consider another person’s perspective, try a different response and see how the outcome changes. This gives young people a protected space to practise the emotional and social skills they may later need in real life.
Explore complex situations
Work through friendship difficulties, peer pressure, conflict, changing relationships and everyday challenges in an age-appropriate way.
See another perspective
Stepping into different roles strengthens empathy, self-awareness and the ability to recognise what others may be feeling.
Practise new responses
Young people can test choices, language and boundaries before using those skills outside the workshop.
Build inner resources
Supported reflection helps develop resilience, emotional intelligence, confidence and healthier ways to respond under pressure.
Safety comes first.Activities are structured, facilitated and focused on learning—not performance. Young people choose how they participate and are never required to share private experiences.
Learning that lasts
Practical tools for real moments.
The high-energy workshop is followed by a second class that reinforces the techniques. Young people practise applying them to stress, anxiety and low mood—including situations such as exams, friendships and everyday pressure.
“Many students told us they would use what they had learned to manage their anxiety before their exams.”See more JCF videos on YouTube →
Bring Acting Up! to your setting
Tell us about your young people.
Complete the short form and your email app will open with all the details ready to send to JCF. We can then discuss your group, aims, dates and the right format for your setting.
✓ Schools and colleges✓ Community organisations✓ Youth groups and events