- Area:
- East Midlands
- Release date:
- 10 12 2012
Project Earth run by High Peak Community Arts is a five year project for people experiencing mental distress. The project in the Peak District, Derbyshire, is funded by Reaching Communities. They received in
The weekly sessions, including screen printing, clay modelling and wicker weaving, give the service users a chance to express themselves.
Shelia joined the project a year ago. Following a series of medical problems, her long term health was damaged and she lost her job. Grieving over the ‘life lost’ she fell into a severe depression.
Shelia began to attend the sessions to create a new future and to increase her confidence levels. Of the sessions, she explains,
‘The group is the highlight of my week, my second priority after eating and drinking. They pick me up from the door, so I know I’ll be safe. I get to do all of these wonderful things and you get an end product.’
To Shelia the art groups are a ‘positive and safe environment. You see people blossom and open up’. The projects give them a creative outlet and a chance to build their confidence and social interaction.
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