Livewell Fund Boosts Mental Health

July 12, 2022July 12, 2022

Livewell Fund Boosts Mental Health

Thanks to Livewell funding we have been running a Mindful Art Club in Plympton for three months.

We share images on our Facebook page each week, to show how the group is going. (We secure written permission from our service users before posting pictures to social media.)

“Finally! A place where you can truly be yourself, be heard and supported. I feel so included and seen and it has given me real confidence in life. I love the creativity, the chats, the laughs and just this feeling I am totally welcome. I really look forward to Thursday mornings”.
Plympton group participant

Our aim is to improve people’s wellbeing and mental health and reduce social isolation. We give people a space to share their feelings, learn different mindfulness techniques for self-care, be creative in a group, relax and chat. We supply all art materials and suggest a different art project each week.

“I really enjoy the mindful group. Meeting lovely likeminded people who don’t judge you. This group is helping me a lot.”
Plympton group participant

Since the project started in April we have served 14 beneficiaries, who attend regularly. We have hosted a group every week, except for the Jubilee bank holiday Thursday.

“The mindful body scan and tongue drum really helped me focus on my breathing and my body. It really relaxed me and made me feel calmer.”
Plympton group participant

We have collected written and verbal feedback to measure how we have reduced social isolation, built self-esteem, and improved mental health. We collect comments in a comments and suggestion book.

We also evaluated our client’s wellbeing at the beginning of the project using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS).

Si Parnham works for Heads Count at Colebrook SW, a user led network for people who access mental health services, carers and everyone with experience of or affected by mental health matters in and around the city of Plymouth. Visiting our Plympton group he said,

“A room full of joy, and people feeling safe and comfortable to talk about how their lives are. Really worthwhile visit and an excellent community lead group.”
Si Parnham, Heads Count

Join us on Thursdays at 11.00am at The London Inn, Church Road, Plympton.

July 11, 2022July 9, 2022

Unique Offer For Your Service Users

Do you manage a team?

Do you offer a support service?

Are you interested in reducing stress and boosting mental health?

You’re going to love our six week course!

Doodle Your Recovery is a six week mindful art course that boosts mental health and reduces social isolation, or bonds existing teams together. The offer includes two facilitators and all art materials. We have previously provided this course to organisations such as Devon Recovery Learning Community, Devon Mind, Positive People Pluss and The Sunflower Women’s Centre.

After the lockdown I felt very isolated and found it difficult to relate to others. Coming to Mindful Art Club has helped me feel reconnected with others.
Course participant

Or read more: Doodle Your Recovery

July 1, 2022September 12, 2023

New Location: Plympton

We are delighted to announce a new partnership with The London Inn, Plympton. This sixteenth century pub offers live music, a beer garden in summer and cosy real fires in the winter.

Learn to practice mindfulness and art for self-care at The London Inn in Plympton St Maurice, starting Thursday 7th July 2022. Each session includes five minutes of guided mindfulness, five minutes of mindful drawing, a simple art project, and the opportunity to chat and relax.

Come along and grab a coffee or tea, and a cake. The group starts at 12.00pm and lasts for an hour and a half. We currently have charitable funding from The Livewell Foundation to make this group free to participants.

(Update, July 2023: We do not currently have charitable funding for this group, so it is now offered to the community as a voluntary service.)

This weekly art group gives people the opportunity to share their feelings, practice mindfulness, create art, relax and chat. Mindful Art Club:

Improves mental health
Improves social connection
Teaches new skills (relaxation exercises and art for self care).

Send us a message now to book your place in this friendly, fun new group.

Find us at:

The London Inn, 8 Church Road, Plymouth, PL7 1NH.

Due to the age of this historic building the lounge bar and toilets are not accessible to wheelchair users. (However, some wheelchairs are able to access the public bar area.) As an alternative we offer a number of other art groups in Plymouth and online.

Please contact The London Inn if you have any accessibility enquiries.

There is on street parking in George Lane and the nearest bus route is 21A. Alight at Longcause.

June 26, 2022June 26, 2022

New Collaboration With Plymouth University will Measure the Difference we Make

We have recently been awarded funding from the University of Plymouth’s Get Involved Awards to research and measure our impact. An Action Based Evaluation of Mindful Art Club (MAC) in Plymouth will be conducted by Dr Helen Lloyd, Emma Sprawson, and Peggy Melmoth, with two researchers; Abbie Scott and Rachel Mullee.

The awards were launched this year by the University’s Research and Innovation team – designed to bring communities and researchers together to find sustainable solutions to local problems.

Research will be conducted from June to December 2022, with case studies produced to share the learning of the research and its impact for the community. A gala ceremony will then follow at the University on 7th December.

We will be involving our service users, volunteers and the organisations that commission us, in the process of designing the research project.

Want to know what we find out? Follow our progress by signing up to our monthly newsletter.

June 15, 2022June 4, 2022

Two Free Art Sessions This Saturday

The village of Plympton St Maurice is getting ready for the return of our popular midsummer festival on Saturday 18th June. Peggy, and volunteers Joanna and Maria, will be hosting a Mindful Art Club stall at the Lamb Feast, so come along and have a chat, have a go at some art, and see the art that has been created in our weekly groups at The Brook Inn, Plympton. You can also find out about our free art groups, evening courses, retreats and staff wellbeing sessions.

Alternatively, come and meet Lee and Emma who are offering a zen doodles workshop at Plymouth Wellness Fair on 18th June. Come and join in with this free mindful art session to see for yourself how it can really lift your mood. There is no artistic talent required! You can also hear special guest experts deliver presentations, speak to wellbeing champions and explore the range of stallholders for all things wellness and wellbeing. This is an event for anyone looking to make positive changes to their lives. If you have any questions about mindful art you can chat to Lee and Emma on our stall.

Find out more: Plymouth Wellness Fair

Plymouth Wellness Fair | 18 Jun, 09:30 – 17:00 Devonport, Devonport Guildhall, Ker St, Devonport, Plymouth PL1 4EL

Read more about Plympton St Maurice Lamb Feast: Midsummer Festival

Book your place at the Mindful Art Retreat, held in Plympton St Maurice, Sunday 3rd July.

Come to our free weekly art group, 11.00am on Thursday mornings at The Brook Inn, Plympton.

June 13, 2022June 4, 2022

Next Art Retreat: 3rd July

Would you like to join us for a day of laughter, conversation, mindfulness and art, surrounded by the peacefulness of nature?

Guided mindfulness
Qi Gong
Simple art activities
Nature walk

Read more: Mindful Art Retreat

On Sunday 3rd July 2022 we invite you to:

Step away from daily distractions
Take some time to relax and rejuvenate
Enjoy the company of like-minded people
Rediscover your sense of inner peace

Places are limited to only eight people and we expect this to be very popular.

If you are interested book now to avoid disappointment.

The retreat takes place in the picturesque village of Plympton St Maurice, near Plymouth, in South Devon. Outdoor activities are held in public green spaces; lunch is served in the local Guildhall. Most of the event is outdoors but can be moved to our indoor venue in the case of rain.

Includes coffees, teas and lunch of crusty bread, homemade cakes and a selection of cheeses, houmous, olives and fruit.

Reserve your place now.

We can’t wait to see you this summer!

Peggy and Emma

June 6, 2022June 4, 2022

[Video] Mindful Art Retreat

We still have some places left on our mindful art one day retreat on Sunday 3rd July 2022.

I really benefitted from the retreat. Like I said at the end, the variety and balance in the design was spot on. The group’s size also meant it felt really comfortable to share more honestly and openly. I really noticed that once one person revealed something difficult they were experiencing, it automatically gave permission for others to do the same… then that ripple effect builds trust and authenticity in the group. There’s so much power in that.

I wanted to thank you particularly for being great leaders – you are both disarming and so accessible and let the group take a natural path of development. I never felt rushed or pressured.

The day made me think about that Marianne Williamson quote… “As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.”
Lorna (Retreat Participant, 2021)

In this video Peggy asked George, Joanna and Jennie what they thought of our small mindful art retreat, in July 2020.

Find out more: Mindful Art Retreats in South Devon.

May 25, 2022May 20, 2022

Coming Soon: Plymouth Wellness Fair

Lee and Emma are looking forward to offering a zen doodles workshop at Plymouth Wellness Fair on 18th June 2022. Come along and join in with this free mindful art session to see for yourself how it can really lift your mood. There is no artistic talent required!

You can also hear special guest experts deliver presentations, speak to wellbeing champions and explore the range of stallholders for all things wellness and wellbeing. This is an event for anyone looking to make positive changes to their lives. If you have any questions about mindful art you can chat to Lee and Emma on our stall.

Founder of the Pillars of Wellness and Wellbeing CIC, Lauren Packham, says,

“So many of us have struggled over the last couple of years, and if you work and have children, you will feel this more than most. Mental health services are at breaking point, and if you work chances are you are ‘not sick enough’ to get help, or you are on an extremely long waiting list. But there are many things we can do to help ourselves, and coming to this event could provide you with a valuable piece of information that could really help you and your wellbeing.”

Free tickets are available for those on a low income. £3 (+34p booking fee) to book in advance. Pre-booked ticket holders will be entered into a prize draw. Those who come via public transport or walk will receive an additional prize draw entry, Lunch is included for the first 50 people who book a donation/paid ticket.

Find out more: Plymouth Wellness Fair

Plymouth Wellness Fair | 18 Jun, 09:30 – 17:00 Devonport, Devonport Guildhall, Ker St, Devonport, Plymouth PL1 4EL

May 20, 2022May 20, 2022

Plympton Lamb Feast Returns!

The village of Plympton St Maurice is getting ready for the return of our popular midsummer festival on Saturday 18th June. Peggy, and volunteer Joanna, will be hosting a Mindful Art Club stall at the Lamb Feast, so come along and have a chat, have a go at some art, and see the art that has been created in our weekly groups at The Brook Inn, Plympton. You can also find out about our free art groups, evening courses, retreats and staff wellbeing sessions.

The Lamb Feast has been held for hundreds of years on the Castle Green, beside the ruins of the Norman castle. The village will be decorated with bunting, the green will be busy with food, craft, cake and plant stalls, charity stalls, swing boats, vintage cars, a dog show, a tug of war and dance displays. After two years with no festival we can’t wait for it to return!

Read more about what’s on: Midsummer Festival

Book your place at the Mindful Art Retreat, held in Plympton St Maurice, Sunday 3rd July.

Come to our free weekly art group, 11.00am on Thursday mornings at The Brook Inn, Plympton.

May 16, 2022May 24, 2022

Now Offering NHS Staff Wellbeing

Would you like to try mindfulness in your workplace?

Want your staff to feel valued and listened to?

Want to increase staff productivity and reduce sick leave?

We offer groups on line, one-off sample sessions, and a six week staff wellbeing programme. We also offer an outdoor mindful art retreat as a staff away day.

On 12th May 2022, for Mental Health Awareness Week we hosted a zoom session for NHS staff from Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

I really enjoyed the session, and am feeling very relaxed and creative. I will definitely use this drawing technique in the future. I will also try to take more time out to try and relax, and release tension. Brilliant guidance.
Lisa, NHS staff, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

Mental health difficulties are the biggest cause of sickness absence in this country (Health and Sickness Executive, 2018). So poor mental health costs employers money. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. But major changes or challenges in life, such as bereavement, relationship problems, having a baby, debt or a workplace restructure may also affect mental health.

“The Mindful Art Club was a great session that I enjoyed participating in. The first five minutes of meditation and breathing exercises were great for me. I could feel all my worries and stresses leaving my body if only for those five minutes.”
Gary Furzeland from Clinical Engineering, and one of the hospital’s People Wellbeing Champions

Fantastic session thank you. Am feeling super chilled.
Jen, NHS staff, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

If you’d like to offer mindful art to your team contact us today!

Author: Peggy Melmoth