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!!!
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.
Mental Health Connections: Learning from each other and finding what fits’, is taking place on Sunday 9th October 11:00-16:00 at Devonport Guildhall. This event is part of the Messages from the HeARTlands exhibition in collaboration with Hope in the Heart and The Intersection.
Grassroots mental health organisations from around Plymouth will be gathering to share their knowledge and support through a number of workshops and talks throughout the day. You’ll also have the chance to see the incredible artwork and stories shared about lived experience in the exhibition.
Mindful Art Club will be offering a free session at 1.00pm. Other workshops include sound therapy and Soul Singers.
There’s no need to book for the event, however if you’d like to take part in any of the workshops listed please head to this link to book because there are limited spaces for each one.
We look forward to seeing you there. Join our mailing list to find out about other free events to boost your mental health.
We are pleased to be offering a new Mindful Art Club, specifically for clients with learning, physical and sensory disabilities to attend with an individual support worker.
The Rees Centre Wellbeing Hub is located in the centre of Plympton, is a short walk from the Ridgeway and close to the Plympton Health Centre.
Our two facilitators offer an hour and a half mindful art session on Thursday afternoons. We begin with a “check-in”. This is a chance for each participant to briefly say how they are feeling, although there is no obligation to talk if you don’t want to. This is followed by five minutes of guided mindfulness, where we focus on relaxing in the present moment. We then try mindful drawing, which is drawing with our eyes closed, for five minutes! This allows us to focus on the feeling of the pen against the paper, instead of aiming for any specific artistic result. The majority of the session is then spent on a simple art project such as drawing with felt tip pens, or making a collage. This is an opportunity to chat and relax. At the end of the session each participant gets a chance to talk about their art work and say how they are feeling.
The session facilitators, Peggy and Emma, both have current DBS certificates, and have had training in safeguarding vulnerable adults. They have extensive experience of working with vulnerable people; specifically those who have experienced substance misuse, mental health issues, time in prison, homelessness, and domestic abuse. They have also worked in residential care homes for adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and autism/ASD.
Mindful Art Club improves mental health and reduces social isolation. Participants leave our groups describing a warm, supportive feeling. There is always a lot of laughter in the sessions.
We are unable to offer one to one support in these groups, but instead invite each client to bring their own support worker.
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.
We held a one day Mindful Art Retreat for 10 people in the picturesque village of Plympton St Maurice on Sunday 21st August 2022. The day included guided mindfulness, art activities, a buffet lunch and a nature walk.
Our aim is to tackle social isolation and common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. We do this by offering weekly peer support, guided mindfulness, mindful drawing (which is drawing with your eyes closed!) and a simple art project that anyone can do. At its simplest, our aim is to get people together to talk and be creative.
The National Lottery funding has made a great impact on our regular clients at the Plympton group who were invited to a Mindful Art Retreat. This event was also supported by The London Inn, who provided a space free of charge, and a lovely buffet (not free!)
Participant Feedback
Super day with a lovely group of genuine, fun and open minded people. Good mixture of both art and mindfulness activities. Loved being outside in nature; sunny afternoon doing natural mandala, and wonderful sat under a tree in the rain sharing and creating. Feeling much more relaxed and enjoyed the company very much. Fab lunch! Structured programme, but entirely relaxed pace. Thanks MAC. – Participant
I have been feeling quite overwhelmed, but am leaving the retreat feeling much better and feeling like a person in my own right again. The activities were very useful in promoting a sense of calm. I feel a sense of belonging now after chats with others, and don’t feel so embarrassed about what is happening in my life, as others have difficult problems too. It has given me a sense of being able to share my thoughts and feelings, and helping to maintain my mental health. – Participant
We had a lovely mindful art retreat day, with lovely people. We had a wonderful buffet lunch followed by cake later in the afternoon. Did lots of projects indoors and out, with nature. I felt very relaxed at the end of the day. It was very well organised by the ladies that run mindful art. I thank the National Lottery for their help. – Participant.
I have really enjoyed the mindful retreat day. Great company, that really has helped me to feel connected and accepted. I particularly enjoyed drawing the vase and feeding through foliage. I left feeling uplifted, hopeful and happy. – Participant.
A brilliant relaxing and chilled out day. Well organised, plenty of great company. Enjoyed all the different projects, activities and fun. The buffet was really tasty and well presented. Thank you for a great day, it will be in my memory for a long time. Mindful Art Group is my life saver, thank you. – Participant
Buffet by www.londoninnpub.co.uk.
Had a lovely day today with a wonderful group of people. I felt a bit wobbly yesterday and this morning, strangely nervous about today. However, I am so glad that I am a part of this. We had mindful meditation throughout the day with art activities both inside (due to the weather) and outside in nature. It was lovely to spend time eating food together and sharing how we are feeling. This group has meant a great deal to me and long may it continue. It has really helped me with my mental health in a kind, gentle way. – Counselling degree student and Mindful Art Club volunteer.
A great opportunity to have the space and support to go inwards and be reflective, surrounded by people that listen and hold the space. A day filled with nourishment for the body and mind with food and cake, along with the creative art activities out in nature – a gift. Thank you! – Retreat participant
We are pleased to have been awarded National Lottery funding to run Mindful Art Club for six more months at the London Inn in Plympton.
Our mission is to improve social connection and mental health in a fun, creative way. Each session lasts for an hour and a half and offers peer support, guided mindfulness, a mindful drawing exercise and a simple art project that anyone can do. This is a project that we are already running and is making a big difference to the people that come. People leave our groups describing a warm, supportive feeling and say they feel validated, listened to, relaxed, happier and calmer. The people who will benefit are those suffering from social isolation and mental health issues.
We think of this as a long-term project as we can see from our feedback how much this group is helping people. One participant writes “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 Thursdays”.
We constantly evaluate our groups by using feedback forms, case studies, verbal discussions and testimonials to find out what’s working well, and any changes we should make. We have even partnered with Plymouth University to write a report to measure our impact on our participants’ mental health.
The London Inn art group takes place every Thursday at midday, where Simon the landlord kindly offers us a space free of charge. Art club participants are expected to buy refreshments at the pub while enjoying the art group.
The London Inn, 8 Church Road, Plympton, PL7 1NH.
We are grateful to The National Lottery and it’s players for supporting this ongoing art group.
Friday 8th July was our first co-design meeting with our art group participants and the research team, brainstorming what we’d like to measure and how to measure it.
We were given 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 is being conducted by Dr Helen Lloyd, Emma Sprawson, and Peggy Melmoth, with two researchers; Abbie Scott and Rachel Mullee.
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.
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.”
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
Contact us today to discuss whether this would be a good fit for your organisation.
