New exhibition in Soham | News and events

More than 1,100 children from three Soham Primary Schools have come together to share what really matters to them through a unique creative engagement project led by Fullscope and artist Hilary Cox Condron. The initiative, titled Mapping Soham Stories , has inspired a vibrant exhibition at Soham Library, which welcomed 65 adults and children as part of its opening event last week.

Commissioned by the East Cambridgeshire Integrated Neighbourhood (NHS), this project focuses on learning how young children can genuinely co-design the services that support them. Ashling Bannon, East Cambridgeshire Integrated Neighbourhood Programme Manager said:

“Hearing what matters most to over 1000 children in East Cambs, in terms of their health and wellbeing, is hugely powerful. Our learning from the innovative Mapping Soham Stories Project will help to ensure that children’s voices are integral to codesigning local support.”

The library exhibition offers everyone the opportunity to join this conversation and consider with a wide range of partners why the children’s ideas are important.

To date every child in the three Soham Primary Schools has enjoyed a day exploring the question “What matters to me?” by talking and sharing ideas with each other and then creating personal maps and "prescriptions for wellbeing." The children’s creative responses revealed their deep connections to nature, family and in particular their pets, friendships, imagination, and cherished places.

Each school day culminated in pop-up exhibitions attended by around 400 family members and community participants, showcasing the work created by everyone during the day. These contributions have now been synthesized into this powerful community exhibition with the children’s drawing and words collaged into a series of colourful play-hoops, chosen to playfully reflect both the importance of the solar system for many of the children and how all their ideas interconnect.

Children have described in detail how they need to move their bodies, nourish their imaginations and connect to people and places. It is striking how less than 7% of the maps include elements linked to technology, whilst 15% feature an animal and many more include aspects related to nature - highlighting their desires for real-world connection.

Fullscope, the organisation behind the project, brings together a coalition of children’s mental health and wellbeing services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, united by a shared commitment to meaningful co-production.

Ruth Sapsed, Programme Lead for Fullscope, said:
“At Fullscope, we believe children and young people are experts in their own experiences. Their voices are not an optional extra—they are essential to shaping services, systems, and environments that truly support their mental health and wellbeing.

“Mapping Soham Stories shows what happens when we create the right conditions—space, time, and trusted relationships—for children to be heard. Their insights are often surprising, profoundly moving, and incredibly wise. Listening to them helps question what we understand about community, care, and connection.”

The exhibition at Soham Library offers the public a chance to experience these deeply moving expressions firsthand. 

The much loved storyteller Marion Leeper shared her new ‘Soham Story’ at the library during the opening event, inspired by the children’s ideas, and said:

“I’m thrilled – and a bit daunted – to be asked to turn children’s ideas about ways to be well into a new story. It’s quite a task:  helicopters, dinosaurs and space probes: favourite colours, foods, family; the crochet feel good factor; these are just a few things that I need to weave into the tale.  I can’t wait to see how it ends up.”

Mapping Soham Stories project has already empowered children to express their values and feelings and also sparked meaningful dialogue among educators, health providers, and families. As one educator said at the end of their day  - I loved having the chance to really get to know my children and find out what matters to them!  This next stage is a chance for the wider community to come and contribute.

Entry to the exhibition is free, and all are welcome. The exhibition is hosted at:

Soham Library, 7 Clay Street, Soham, CB7 5HJ. Opening hours can be found via Cambridgeshire Online | Soham Library.