Our 2018/19 outreach programme involved a series of craft workshops between 1 August 2018 – 28 February 2019 with our partners Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust – Life Rooms Recovery College (LRRC) in Walton. Six local artist-makers took part, teaching a range of different skills and techniques: ceramics with Simon Shaw; recycled creatures with Mike Badger; paper stars with Elizabeth Willow; printmaking with Gill Curry; ceramics with Attila Olah; and knitting with Helen Chatterton.
LRRC Walton is a centre for learning, recovery, health and wellbeing, and a base for a range of life opportunities for service users, carers and the wider community. The Life Rooms challenge stigma and promote positive mental health and wellbeing. Their work supports people to get ‘work ready’, building confidence and self-esteem which is often achieved through social activity such as arts and crafts.
Each maker also ran a session at Walton Hospital’s Clock View inpatient unit, teaching making techniques to people living with dementia.
The group learned how to make coil pots using clay and made some very accomplished pieces. The sessions allowed participants to explore their creativity and feel the therapeutic benefits of hands-on making.
“It’s rewarding to finish something you are proud of.”
– LRRC Walton participant
Mike provided the group with a range of recycled materials collected from the home – such as bottle tops, plastic and pegs – and showed them how to combine these with wire to make a range of decorative creatures.
Elizabeth taught a group how to make various forms, including paper stars to celebrate the lead up to Christmas. Participants learned how to use simple paper tools and different types of paper folding to make 2D object.
“Beautiful workshop, very inspiring, nice pace, lovely clear instructions, loved seeing the examples of what you can do.”
– LRRC Walton participant
Gill taught the participants simple printmaking techniques using landscapes and nature as a starting point. They worked industriously alongside Gill, making a range of high quality prints and acquiring new skills, dexterity and creative thinking.
The group learned how to make ceramic tiles, using stamps and different styles of mark making to decorate the tile surfaces. They then moved onto making vessels from clay.
The group learned how to experiment with knitting, casting on, choosing colour and casting off.
