Our Impact

As a small grass roots community group, over the past five years we have consistently offered mental health support and social connection to the Plymouth community during these unprecedented challenging times. In 2022/23 we spent a year working with a research team at Plymouth University to measure the difference we make.

University of Plymouth Results

The University of Plymouth used a mix of methods to assess qualitative and quantitative data involving the service-user opinion. They concluded in May 2023:

Our creative activities provide a distraction from negative thoughts and social anxiety. Our art encourages ‘flow’- a relaxing empowering experience- and attending Mindful Art Club can boost confidence and self-esteem while reducing social isolation.

Participants made statistically significant improvements in their mood from attending our sessions.

Attendance at Mindful Art club also improved participants’ level of social connect, facilitated emotional regulation strategies and supported positive mental wellbeing.

The impact you guys made on me during Covid last year saved me as I’m always telling you… I have attended one in person group – Ivybridge, and I turned up to each one I was still in the county for – bit of a record for me tbh… When you guys took yourself offline – I had no choice but to set up our CIC to reach out to the rest of the chronic illness isolated community – we’re doing well, and it’s thanks to you guys making me feel welcome in a world that didn’t at the time.

Debby Freeston, Rogue Debby CIC

Other Research

Prior to the University of Plymouth study, we collected feedback in February 2022 and calculated the results shown below;

  • 69% of mindful art course participants said it had helped them with anxiety.
  • 44% said a mindful art course helped them with depression.
  • 40% said it helped them with another mental health issue.
  • 59% said it helped them with loneliness or isolation.
  • Participants also reported being helped with physical health, low self-esteem and other issues not listed in our survey.
  • 66% said they had increased their ability to use mindfulness.
  • 84% said they had increased their ability to use art as a self care practice.

(Source: Collected feedback form responses, accessed 04/02/22)

I enjoy the mindfulness and art. As I do art at home it helps my acute pain. The group makes me feel rested and at ease. Emma, Lee and Peggy are wonderful.

Anonymous participant feedback.

We are grateful to our existing grant funders who share our vision of a world where peer support, mindfulness, creative activities and social connection are easily available in local communities. With their support we have helped hundreds of people since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.