The Brook Inn – Mindful Art Club

Find Your Creative Side (Even if You Think You Haven’t Got One!)

I just rediscovered this lovely testimonial from a regular client at our Brook Inn group in Plympton last year.

“I really enjoy the mindful art class. Not sure how I would’ve managed lockdown if Peggy, Emma (and Lee) hadn’t encouraged a creative side of me to come out, something I didn’t know I had in me. We did a class, making cards and I have become totally addicted to card making (which has also given me the confidence to try some other crafts) which occupied my lockdown time, some thing’s happen for a reason even if we don’t know it at the time. The group are so welcoming and friendly where anyone is accepted for who they are without any judgement and you can give as little or as much input as you are comfortable with.

At the beginning I wasn’t keen on mindfulness but I’m getting used to it. I really enjoyed Wednesdays group where a tongue drum was used and what a difference being outside made! To smell the garden, hear birds and the trickle of water whilst the drum played with Lee talking you through, it was amazing. I would definitely recommend it to those who are looking for somewhere that provides a safe place to go if you are lonely or suffer with mental health issues or just out to meet people. Thanks Peggy and Emma.”

– Dawn

We are re-starting our group at The Brook Inn, Longbrook Street, Plympton on Thursday 15th July 2021, 11.00am. Read more.

New Group: Plympton

Learn to practice mindfulness and art for self-care at The Brook Inn in Plympton St Maurice, starting Thursday 15th July 2021. Each session includes five minutes of guided mindfulness, five minutes of mindful drawing, a simple art project, and the opportunity to chat and relax.

Come along and grab a coffee or tea in time for a 11.00 am start. The group lasts for an hour and a half. There is no set cost for this group but we are running it on a ‘pay what you feel’ donations basis. Mindful Art Club is a not-for-profit community group.

This weekly art group gives people the opportunity to share their feelings, practice mindfulness, create art, relax and chat. Mindful Art Club:

Improves mental health
Improves social connection
Teaches new skills (relaxation exercises and art for self care).

Send us a message now to book your place in this friendly, fun new group.

Find us at: The Brook Inn, 33 Longbrook Street, Plympton, PL7 1NJ

There is parking at the pub and the nearest bus route is 21A. Alight at Longcause.

Art Club Safely Returns to The Brook Inn

Mindful Art Club are looking forward to returning to our old venue, The Brook Inn, Longbrook Street in Plympton, as of 10am on Thursday 17th September.

The new six person rules – which come into force on 14th September – are a change to England’s current guidance. But regular Brook Inn customers will know that landlord John Govier, and his team, have been following all the government guidelines since they re-opened, so this won’t make any difference to how they operate, when it comes in to force from Monday.

At-a-glance: How do the new rules affect mindful art classes?

Social gatherings of more than six people in England will not be allowed in law from Monday 14 September.
The new rule applies to pubs, cafes and public outdoor spaces.
However, gatherings can be more than six if it is for education purposes.
Support groups can take place in gatherings of any number if the support group is organised by a business or a benevolent institution to provide mutual aid.
Our mindful art classes at The Sunflower Women’s Centre will be run in groups of six, and booking for these is essential. (Phone 01752 977614 to go on the waiting list.)
Pubs and restaurants are still allowed to have more than six customers inside, but the groups of six have to be socially distant from each other.
Mindful art club tends to be around six to eight people. There is plenty of space for us to all sit on separate tables, safely distanced from one another.
The Brook Inn follows all safety and hygiene measures set out by the government, and always has done since reopening in July.

For Your Peace of Mind

At The Brook Inn and The Sunflower Women’s Centre we check temperatures on arrival, and take client details for track and trace. Paper and felt tip pens are provided, but you can also bring your own felt tip pens to reduce the risks of sharing pens.

If you have any questions or concerns about coming to Mindful Art Club during the current pandemic crisis please contact us.

You may also like to try a free, online class .

Mindful Art Club will be at The Brook Inn every Thursday from 10 am until 11.30am.

How to Get Mindfulness in to YOUR Workplace

Do you, or your colleagues suffer from stress?

Do you work in healthcare or support work?

Could your clients benefit from more mindfulness?

Let us bring Mindful Art Club into your workplace, treatment service or social club!

Last week we enjoyed bringing Mindful Art Club to the TLC group at The Brook Inn. In this case TLC stands for Tea, Laughter and Company. Every Thursday afternoon at The Brook, in Plympton St Maurice, the landlord John, and his staff offer a free cup of tea, some biscuits and like-minded company to anyone who lives alone, or feels lonely. There is sometimes a guest speaker, a game of cards, or a sing along.

We offered this friendly crowd of around 25 people, a short mindfulness meditation and an easy art project; drawing zentangle patterns. Many people there had not tried drawing for years, and had never tried meditation.

That was really relaxing – I almost fell asleep!
A lady at TLC

There was a lot of chatting and laughter while everyone had a go at doing some artwork. We had so much fun, and were very surprised to receive a round of applause at the end of the session!

Emma and Peggy can bring Mindful Art Club to your treatment service, workplace or residential home. Drop in to one of their existing classes to find out about this new way to manage anxiety and stress.

Ex-Rehab Staff Launch New Art Club

Two ex-Broadreach staff, made redundant by the recent closure of the Plymouth treatment centre, have launched a Mindful Art Club at The Brook Inn, Plympton.

Artists 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, due to a lack of funding, 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.

Peggy said, “Do you know when you enjoyed art as a kid, without judging your ability or results? We get together for 10 minutes of mindful meditation, then we have a coffee and a chat, and do some art, just for fun.”

Emma commented, “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.”

Emma is trained in counselling, mindfulness, acupuncture and Indian head massage, and is a practicing artist offering multi-media artworks and personalised commissions.

Peggy is qualified in clinical hypnotherapy and is also a practicing artist offering watercolour paintings, personalised cartoon portraits and logos for small business. She is currently studying for a counselling qualification.

These easy-going art sessions aim to help you to deal with anxiety, stress and daily worries, and they are run on a ‘pay what you feel’ donation basis.

Mindful Art Club is every Wednesday at 10am at The Brook Inn, 33 Longbrook Street, Plympton St Maurice, PL7 1NJ Plymouth, Devon. The sessions are friendly and informal, so just grab a coffee and join in.

At a recent session there were eight people in the class, who described the experience as, relaxing, therapeutic, “me-time”, inspiring, colourful, energising, rejuvenating and “a good form of self-care.”

You can find out more information about the club at www.Facebook.com/MindfulArtClub