Category: Art

Posted on

HollysPomBoms

Messages of hope and acceptance, reminders to reach out and talk, and acts of kindness

After Holly took her own life in July 2018, her sister Anna wanted to do something to commemorate her birthday that felt joyful and fun. The sense of despair and sadness across Holly’s community was suffocating and we needed something positive to focus on and work towards. Holly was a very creative person, and often enjoyed crafting with her family, including making pompoms. So Anna came up with the idea of ‘pombombing’ public spaces in order to raise awareness of mental illness, and encouraged others to make pompoms and decorate somewhere for all to see. When it grew a little bigger than we thought it would, Holly’s friend Hettie got involved too, and now she can’t ever imagine not pombombing.

IMG_4688.JPG

Friends, families and colleagues rallied together and rose to the occasion. By the end of Holly’s birthday month, hundreds of people all over the world had made pompoms, pombombed somewhere or shared a photo. The colourful balls of love were catching strangers attention, encouraging them to reach out to ask for or offer help, starting conversations, sharing messages of hope and acceptance and most importantly of all, talking about Holly. ​

Why are we pombombing?​

We hope that the pompoms can bring an awareness of the fragility of life, be a conversation starter and a reminder that help can be sought and given. Prompting people to share their love, pain, grief and stories is a step towards breaking the stigma of mental illness, keeping memories alive and letting others know we care. Opening up to others can be an incredibly hard thing to do but there are always people who want to help and want to listen, whether it be a friend, family member or helpline. 

Mindful Art Club are pombombing for Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 will take place from May 12 to May 18, focusing on the theme of community and the importance of supportive connections for mental health. This week aims to highlight how being part of a positive community can enhance well-being and provide a sense of belonging.

Read more: https://hollyspombombs.wixsite.com/hollyspombombs

Posted on

New: Recovery Art Club

Has your drinking started to worry you?

Is using drugs causing problems in your life?

Are you already in recovery but want to connect with others?

Recovery Art Club is a free, weekly group at Moments Cafe in Plymouth city centre. The group is upstairs in the Arthur Read room and will be running for two months.

Starts: Wednesday 31st May 1.00pm – 2.30pm

Moments Café, 69a New George Street, Plymouth, PL1 1RJ

Even if you can’t decide whether you have a problem or not, you are welcome to come along. There is no art experience required! Friendly and informal. Just grab a coffee and join in.

Connect with others and discover new ways of practising self-care through easy art and mindfulness exercises. Practice being here in the present moment, and accept where you are right now, without self-judgement. We will also be inviting some inspiring guest speakers to these groups, to talk about addiction and recovery.

The group is hosted by Emma Sprawson and Peggy Melmoth. They are the founders of Mindful Art Club, and have a background of working for many years in addiction treatment centres in Plymouth.

Places are free thanks to a grant from Devon Community Foundation, but booking is essential as we expect this group to be popular.

Mindful Art Session

We start with a brief chat about how everyone is feeling, then a short guided mindfulness session, followed by a simple art activity that anyone can do. Our mission is to make mindfulness more fun! We’re not teaching art techniques, we’re just here to play.

Places are limited, so if you cannot attend please let us know and we can offer your place to someone else. Book now.

Not ready for this group yet? Join our mailing list to hear about other free events.

Posted on

Christmas Online Art Club

The return of our online art club in October and November was a great success.

This is a supportive, monthly, online session offering creativity and good company: A short mindful meditation and an easy art project.

Tuesday December 20th 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Early bird tickets are available at just £5.00 until seven days before the event – after that the full price is £6.50.

“I really enjoyed tonight’s session. Thanks very much. Lovely to see some familiar faces and meet some new people.”

Linda

Connect with others, and discover new ways of practising self-care through easy art and mindfulness exercises. Practice being here in the present moment, and accept where you are right now, without self-judgement.

We start with a brief chat about how everyone is feeling*, then a short guided mindfulness session, followed by a simple art activity that anyone can do. We offer a different art project each session. Our mission is to make mindfulness more fun! We’re not teaching art techniques, we’re just here to play. (*You don’t have to speak if you don’t want to.)

“Thank you so much for bringing back mindful art online. I’m going through a lot at the moment and would have spent tonight in tears if it wasn’t for you guys, but instead did something productive and calming.”

Becky

You will need some felt tip pens, some plain paper and an (optional) cup of tea or coffee.

You will also need to download Zoom, free video-conferencing software, to your computer, tablet or smart phone, before the day. https://zoom.us

After payment you will receive an email from Eventbrite saying, “Check the event page for all the information you need to join.” The link in that email will take you to a page with the Zoom invite. *Check your spam folder, notifications folder or promotions tab for the email!*

Ticket sales end 10 minutes before the event starts.

Early bird tickets are available at just £5.00 until 12th December – after that the full price is £6.50.

Book your place at our online art club now.

“Thank you Peggy and Emma for being back online!”

Debby

Don’t miss out. Join our Facebook group for more special events and offers https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulArtClub

Not ready to join us online? Download free mindful art activities instead.

Posted on

November Online Art Club

The return of our online art club in October was a great success.

“Halloween special from the comfort of your own home through Zoom. What a lovely session, thank you all. My kids loved it.”

Kerry

This is a supportive, monthly, online session offering creativity and good company: A short mindful meditation and an easy art project.

Last Tuesday of the month 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Early bird tickets are available at just £5.00 until seven days before the event – after that the full price is £6.50.

“I really enjoyed tonight’s session. Thanks very much. Lovely to see some familiar faces and meet some new people.”

Linda

Connect with others, and discover new ways of practising self-care through easy art and mindfulness exercises. Practice being here in the present moment, and accept where you are right now, without self-judgement.

We start with a brief chat about how everyone is feeling*, then a short guided mindfulness session, followed by a simple art activity that anyone can do. We offer a different art project each session. Our mission is to make mindfulness more fun! We’re not teaching art techniques, we’re just here to play. (*You don’t have to speak if you don’t want to.)

“Thank you so much for bringing back mindful art online. I’m going through a lot at the moment and would have spent tonight in tears if it wasn’t for you guys, but instead did something productive and calming.”

Becky

You will need some felt tip pens, some plain paper and an (optional) cup of tea or coffee.

You will also need to download Zoom, free video-conferencing software, to your computer, tablet or smart phone, before the day. https://zoom.us

After payment you will receive an email from Eventbrite saying, “Check the event page for all the information you need to join.” The link in that email will take you to a page with the Zoom invite. *Check your spam folder, notifications folder or promotions tab for the email!*

Ticket sales end 10 minutes before the event starts.

Early bird tickets are available at just £5.00 until 15th November – after that the full price is £6.50.

Book your place at our online art club now.

“Thank you Peggy and Emma for being back online!”

Debby

Don’t miss out. Join our Facebook group for more special events and offers https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulArtClub

Not ready to join us online? Download free mindful art activities instead.

Posted on

Free Halloween Art Session

Art Session Replay With Printable Activity

Want an easy way to learn mindfulness?
Want to try art for self care?
Want to feel connected to others, but missed our online art session last night?

A replay of yesterday’s online art session is now available as a video, or a sound file to download and listen like a podcast while you make art.

This fifteen minute video gives you a taster of what happens at Mindful Art Club, and offers a short guided mindfulness session, and a themed mindful colouring exercise.

Here’s what people on Facebook said about it:

“Halloween special from the comfort of your own home through Zoom. What a lovely session, thank you all. My kids loved it.” – Kerry

“I really enjoyed tonight’s session. Thanks very much. Lovely to see some familiar faces and meet some new people.” – Linda

“Thank you so much for bringing back mindful art online. I’m going through a lot at the moment and would have spent tonight in tears if it wasn’t for you guys, but instead did something productive and calming.” – Becky

“Thank you Peggy and Emma for being back online!” – Debby

The Halloween replay and printables are only available until 31st October, so sign up now!

Yes please, send me free stuff!

* indicates required

If you want to join us next month there is no art experience required! Friendly and informal. Just grab a coffee and join in. Last Tuesday of the month 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Early bird tickets are available at just £5.00, until seven days before the event. After that the full price is £6.50. So don’t miss out!

Book now for our Online Mindful Art Club

We look forward to seeing you next month.

Peggy and Emma

PS. Share your finished Halloween colouring pages in our Mindful Art Club Facebook group. We’d love to see what you do.

Posted on

£300 to Develop Your Creativity

Pictured: Butterfly Gazing by Danny Hessle

The mental health charity SANE have just launched another round of awards for the SANE Creative Awards Scheme, which offers up to £300 to individuals with mental health conditions (and their carers) to develop their creative potential.

At present they are accepting applications for those pursuing goals in the visual arts only, that is painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, digital art and mixed media; the awards could be used for art materials, short courses to develop skills, specific project costs or replacement care in the case of carers. SANE will be accepting applications until Monday, November 7th, 2022.

Download the forms here:  SANE Creative Awards Scheme

Pictured: Butterfly Gazing by Danny Hessle

Posted on

How Volunteering Helped Me Heal

My Story

I’ve been volunteering for Mindful Art Club for about two years. My volunteering includes; attending the Annual General Meetings, brainstorming ideas, participating in creating an eight week mindful art course, driving, being a stall holder at promotional and networking events such as Plympton Midsummer Festival at Plympton Castle, Plympton Health and Wellbeing Event at Rees Centre Wellbeing Hub, and Plympton Royal British Legion Family Open Day. I am now a participant in a stakeholder design group with Plymouth University helping to evaluate activities provided by Mindful Art Club and the benefit to session participants.

I found Mindful Art Club at a really difficult time in my life and being a part of the community for several years has helped me to heal, recover and grow. I’ve chosen to volunteer to give something back and share my belief that practicing mindfulness, being creative and being your true self in a welcoming and safe space can really enrich and improve your life!

By volunteering I’ve gained mindfulness techniques that I now practice regularly to improve and sustain my health and wellbeing; It’s brought creativity into my life; I’ve reclaimed my confidence and it’s given me a sense of belonging and purpose; I’ve made genuine friends, we support each other through the ups and downs and we also have lots of days out and fun!

If you’re thinking you’d like to be part of this great team and have time to spare to volunteer then just go for it!!! 

Joanna Chalmers

Posted on

How Art Improved my Mental Health

Client Story

I was depressed and generally mentally unwell since before the pandemic.
I first attended Mindful Art Club when the world started opening up again because I wanted to connect with art and with people. I previously had felt very isolated and socially hollow.

I have also had problem after problem as well as stress after stress. Appointments, investigations, tribunals, appeals, eviction, call centres, professional emails, and all the official sounding meetings, all seemingly one after another.

Having Mindful Art Club – this weekly space to just sit and chat with these lovely people whilst doing these mindful creative activities – has made so much of a difference to me. I feel like the art club allows me to take away some of the negativity and toxicity that builds up over the course of a week of stressful activities.

Now I’m moving into a new house, I have a new job and new energy. I’m not cured, but I am progressing, consistently making healthy choices, and actively developing resilience. This art group has helped me to accomplish and maintain these positive impacts on my life and it is also great to see that the group in general is flourishing. I am very grateful that this club exists and I struggle to express my great appreciation for the people that make it what it is.

Chris

Posted on

New: Recovery Art Club

Has your drinking started to worry you?

Is using drugs causing problems in your life?

Are you already in recovery but want to connect with others?

Recovery Art Club is a free, weekly group at Moments Cafe in Plymouth city centre. The group is upstairs in the Arthur Read room and will be running for six months.

Starts: Tuesday 6th September 2022, 1.30pm – 3.00pm

Moments Café, 69a New George Street, Plymouth, PL1 1RJ

Even if you can’t decide whether you have a problem or not, you are welcome to come along. There is no art experience required! Friendly and informal. Just grab a coffee and join in.

Connect with others and discover new ways of practising self-care through easy art and mindfulness exercises. Practice being here in the present moment, and accept where you are right now, without self-judgement. We will also be inviting some inspiring guest speakers to these groups, to talk about addiction and recovery.

The group is hosted by Emma Sprawson and Peggy Melmoth. They are the founders of Mindful Art Club, and have a background of working for many years in addiction treatment centres in Plymouth.

Places are free thanks to funding from an OPCC Community Grant from Devon Community Foundation, but booking is essential as we expect this group to be popular.

Mindful Art Session

We start with a brief chat about how everyone is feeling, then a short guided mindfulness session, followed by a simple art activity that anyone can do. Our mission is to make mindfulness more fun! We’re not teaching art techniques, we’re just here to play.

Places are limited, so if you cannot attend please let us know and we can offer your place to someone else. Book now.

Not ready for this group yet? Join our mailing list to hear about other free events.

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)

Follow by Email
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
YouTube
YouTube
LinkedIn
INSTAGRAM