Mindful Art Club was founded by two mental health professionals, made redundant by the unexpected closure of an addiction rehab.
Peggy Melmoth and Emma Sprawson were part of the support team at Broadreach House Addiction Treatment Centre, Plymouth, offering a number of activities to the resident clients, including arts and craft workshops. When Broadreach House closed in July 2019, Emma and Peggy decided to bring their combined skills into the community to offer mindful art as a way to manage anxiety and stress.
Emma said, “At Broadreach I used to run mindfulness sessions and art workshops for the clients. Then we had the idea of combining both things at once.”
Peggy said, “We are both in long term recovery from addiction ourselves, and we are passionate about supporting others who want recovery, or who are already in recovery.”
They bring a variety of professional skills to their support groups in the community, including counselling skills, and teaching mindfulness and art practices for self-care.
Joining the Mindful Art Club has been genuinely life-changing for me. I found the group at a time when life felt over-whelming-navigating probation after criminal offences, feeling lost, and not sure where to turn. But from the moment I walked in the club, Peggy and Emma made me feel welcome, understood, and supported. – James.
Participants have described the experience as, relaxing, therapeutic, “me-time”, inspiring, colourful, energising, rejuvenating and “a good form of self-care.”
The current addiction recovery art clubs are listed on Eventbrite. Book now.
Livewell Southwest have put together a selection of links and signposting for further information around drugs and alcohol.
