Tag: mental health

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How to Get News From the Devon Mental Health Alliance

We were pleased to meet with Tom Cox from the Devon Mental Health Alliance recently, to find out about the work that they do, and share with him our own work at Mindful Art Club.

The Devon Mental Health Alliance (DMHA) is a partnership between six organisations dedicated to providing support for people experiencing challenges with their mental health. The goal of the Alliance is to improve access to services and identify new opportunities to support people across all of Devon’s communities, using a collaborative approach that reaches across and brings together partners from the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

The Devon Mental Health Alliance blog features regular articles about organisations working in Devon who are supporting mental health. Did you see the one about Nicky from Marbles Lost and Found CIC? Sign up to their newsletter today and you will soon see an article appearing about Mindful Art Club! Sign up now.

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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.

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[Video] Wellbeing Day at Plymouth University

On Saturday 26th November we held a wellness day in collaboration with the WEA, Pillars of Wellness & Wellbeing CIC and POP Collectives funding.

The day offered stalls, workshops and speakers, and entry was free. We were pleased to be working with Lauren Packham from Pillars of Wellness and Wellbeing to organise this event at University of Plymouth, in the Roland Levinsky building.

Talks included qi gong, nature, nutrition, lived experience and stress management. Workshops included Mindful Art Club, qi gong, a sound bath, yoga and a guided meditation with David Rees from Here to Live Life.

“As the world opened up again last year, Mindful Art Club helped me to open up.”

Chris, a member of the Friday group at Moments Cafe

In this video Peggy, Emma, Chris and Dave explain the impact of art club, at the wellbeing day.

Don’t miss our next free wellbeing event. Sign up to our mailing list now.

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Wellbeing Day Itinerary: 26th November

This Saturday 26th November we are hosting a wellbeing day in collaboration with the WEA, Pillars of Wellness & Wellbeing CIC and POP Collectives funding.

The day will offer stalls, workshops and speakers, and entry is free. We are pleased to be working with Lauren Packham from Pillars of Wellness and Wellbeing to organise this event.

Wellness Day

A full day of wellness focused talks and workshops, with stallholders in wellbeing-related fields.

Location: University of Plymouth, the Roland Levinsky building.

Date: 26th November 2022

AGENDA FOR THIS SATURDAY.

This is an all-day event and we recommend committing to the whole day to get the most out if it.

9.30 OPEN

10.00 TALK Lee Squires – Qi Gong

10.20 BREAK

10.40 WORKSHOP Mindful Art Club creative session, qigong and sound bath

12.00 TALK Kate Nicholls (Wylder) – Nature

12.15 TALK Duncan – Nutrition

12.30 BREAK

12.45 TALK Lived experience talk

1.00 TALK Jay Unwin – mental and physical fitness, wellbeing and stress management

1.20 LUNCH

2.00 VIDEO Michael Allison – Polyvagal theory

2.30 YOGA Jo Thyssen – The Yoga Loft

3.30 MEDITATION David Rees – Here to live Life

Book Now.

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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.

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Wellbeing Day: 26th November

Save the Date! Saturday 26th November we are hosting a wellbeing day in collaboration with the WEA, Pillars of Wellness & Wellbeing CIC and POP Collectives funding.

The day will offer stalls, workshops and speakers, and entry is free. We are pleased to be working with Lauren Packham from Pillars of Wellness and Wellbeing to organise this event.

Wellness Day

A full day of wellness focused talks and workshops, with stallholders in wellbeing-related fields.

Location: Universty of Plymouth, the Roland Levinsky building.

Date: 26th November 2022

This is an event for anyone looking to make positive changes to their lives. So many of us have struggled over the last couple of years. Mental health services are at breaking point, and you may find you are either ‘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.

You will hear talks given by specialistss in their fields and you will have the opportunity to meet  with various service providers of wellness and wellbeing services.

We have been fortunate enough to receive grant finding, which means we can make the event completely free (tickets would be sold for £35 each if this was not the case). However, you can donate if you wish – donations will go to the Plymouth Samaritans. Just enter the amount you wish to donate when booking (you can enter £0 if you do not wish to donate), or you can give on the day.

Booking is not essential but is advised if you want to attend for the full day (highly recommended!). We kindly ask that you do not book unless you will 100% be attending.

We also have a FREE LUNCH available for the first 50 people who book.

By registering in advance (and of course, attending!), you will be entered into the prize draw to win one of the fantastic prizes. You will need to attend to be entered into the prize draw, so be sure to give us your name and email address on the way in.

We will have four presentations on the following topics and how they can have a positive impact and play a key role in mental health and wellbeing:

1) Creativity

2) Qi Gong

3) Nutrition

4) Nature

There will also be a  short video on polyvagal theory which explains how we can utilise this to have a positive imapct on our bodies. Trauma and stress are held in the body, and the vagus nerve is pivitol in releasing them.

Mindful Art club will deliver a creative workshop and qi gong session and we will have a yoga class followed by a meditation session in the latter part of the day.

Book Now.

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New: Online Art Club

Back by popular demand: A supportive, monthly, online session offering creativity and good company: A short mindful meditation and an easy art project.

No art experience required! Friendly and informal. Just grab a coffee and join in. Hosted by art club founders Peggy Melmoth and Emma Sprawson.

Last Tuesday of the month 7.00pm – 8.00pm

Our first event will be a spook-tacular Halloween session! Early bird tickets are available at just £5.00 until October 18th – after that the full price is £6.50.

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.)

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

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.

Book your place at our online art club now.

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

Boost your mental health today by downloading free mindful art activities at our website https://mindfulartclub.co.uk

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£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

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Supported Art Activities

Mindful Art Supported Activities start Thursday 13th October 2022

Mindful Art Club has been providing peer support groups in the Plymouth community for three years. Prior to this Peggy and Emma have many years of experience supporting vulnerable clients in residential addiction treatments centres.

We are now launching a new weekly group exclusively for clients with learning, physical and sensory disabilities, or mental health difficulties. We invite clients to attend, with their support workers, and enjoy five minutes of simple guided mindfulness, followed by an art activity. Art projects may include drawing, collage making or decorating painted stones. During the group clients and support workers are encouraged to relax and chat while making art. 

Our friendly, relaxed groups boost mental health and reduce social isolation.

Session includes:

  • A check in to say how you are feeling
  • Five minutes guided mindfulness
  • Art activity
  • Coffee or tea
  • All art materials
  • A check out to share how you feel at the end of the group.

Costing and Access

Each session lasts and hour and a half, and includes a coffee or tea, and all art materials.

Cost: £15.00 per session.

Places are limited so we ask participants to book in advance.

Reserve your place now.

We look forward to seeing you at Mindful Art Club!

Thursdays 2.30pm – 4.00pm

Rees Centre Wellbeing Hub

Mudge Way, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 2PS

Accessibility

Ramped/Sloped Access, and Manual Doors

Off-Site Parking nearby.

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