A UNIVERSITY film venture is making video stars out of a ground-breaking Shaw Trust arts project in
Now it is hoped that news will spread of Windmill Designs' work and the success replicated in other areas.
The
It is hoped that the video, spotlighting the experiences of mental health service users, will help to secure funding for a bigger production, which will be used to raise awareness nationally of the benefits of arts projects.
Dr Ann Whitworth, the University's Research Co-ordinator for Mental Health Projects, and arts department colleague Colin Murrell, interviewed team members and spotlighted the unique programme, where 24 clients work alongside professionals producing commissioned art pieces and bespoke garden furniture from a sister workshop.
"Clients work alongside us all the way, from site visits and design brief through the creative process to delivery," said Cath Moran, the project Lead Artist for Shaw Trust, a national charity that helps disabled and disadvantaged people gain work and independence.
The charity's Mental Health Campaign will launch a free web resource in April, to provide line managers with the support and guidance they need to support employees with mental ill health (for more information, please visit: www.shaw-trust.org.uk/mentalhealth .
"We use art and woodwork as a tool to develop employability skills and the results are incredible," added Cath, whose team's most recent work was a life drawing of South Ribble Mayor Councillor Mrs Kath Beattie during her tour of the project.
"In mental ill health, the first thing that goes is belief in yourself. Medication alleviates the symptoms, but self worth and self confidence are invariably diminished and that's often why people can't go back to work. On this project there's a huge shift forward in those areas."
Dr Whitworth co-ordinates the Designers for Mental Health Care Settings Network, which was established by the Department of Design for anyone with an interest in designing mental health units and settings, be they architects, artists, designers, NHS estates staff, medical staff, service users, or clients.
"We are highlighting that it can be positive getting involved in these sorts of projects and that people do have serious contributions to make. We wanted to look at the positive side of what happens when people are empowered to get involved," she said.
Ann was also keen to talk to Windmill Designs clients because of the ground-breaking nature of the project itself. "It works as a proper team in the planning and the implementation of the commissions it gets and it's not seen as a therapy group," she said. "It's actually doing something that's contributing.
"Windmill Designs enhances skills and there's an aim to it; participating as part of the team; improving skills and confidence."
Ann said the whole project had been fun to do and she was really grateful to everybody who participated. "I knew they had a lot to contribute but I was surprised by their willingness to talk frankly on camera," she said. "What we have got is from the heart and I thank them for their help. They're great, they really are."
The experience has been so successful that the grateful university is making a second 15-minute video focussing specifically on Windmill Designs, which will be used by the project to publicise their work.
Cath, also a Designers for Mental Health Care Settings Network member, got her team involved in its conference last year, by asking delegates to contribute to canvases which they then turned into a completed artwork. Now Ann is hoping to secure funding to create postcards and thank-you cards from them.
Windmill Designs workshop supervisor Steve 'Scouse' Tole, a winner of last year's Shaw Trust STAR award, has been involved in the making of both films, A network member himself, he was on the steering group overseeing the national video's production, and conducted all the interviews, before being interviewed himself for the Shaw Trust film.
Now there are plans for him to conduct interviews further a field, with Mind in
Steve is a tireless champion of the
"When you're on the ward you think you're never going to work again," he said. "Then you have a project like ours and a whole new world opens up.
"I see people completely transform their lives, and there's no buzz like it. Everyone should have the chance to attend a project like ours."
* Our picture shows South Ribble Mayor Councillor Mrs Kath Beattie posing for artists at the Shaw Trust and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust project.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For further details, please contact Corporate Communications Manager Helen Durnion on 07814 749844, email: helen.durnion@shaw-trust.org.uk or PR Officer Becky Gammon on 07779 784901. Or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk
2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels. Across the
3. Shaw Trust believes tackling the stigma surrounding mental ill health is crucial, which is why we are launching a free website in April to give guidance and advice to managers on how to support employees with mental ill health. To register to be sent a link to this free website when it launches, please visit www.shaw-trust.org.uk/mentalhealth
