Celf-Able - peer support in a creative environment in North Powys

Andrew Logan (Celf-Able's patron) donated this artwork for the Secret Art Sales

Two and a half years ago we introduced our readers to a new group by and for disabled artists in Powys called Celf-Able. This week's guest author Amanda Wells - one of the founder members of the group - gives us an update on Celf-Able's recent and planned activities, and ongoing development.

Hello, I’m Amanda, voluntary co-ordinator for Celf-Able, a disabled-led inclusive art group in Montgomeryshire. We have been having a busy time at our meetings in Machynlleth, Caersws, Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool and Newtown. We meet once a month in each venue and get together to do art in a social and peer-supportive atmosphere. We provide materials and people can have a go at different types of art, and when funding allows we invite artists to do workshops with us on different art materials and techniques. We have done pottery, mosaics, linoprinting, portrait painting, abstract painting and a host of other activities.

We believe in the role of art in wellbeing and social inclusion. Members benefit from exploring their creativity and doing art in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. We share skills and help each other achieve our artistic aims. We hold regular exhibitions at Newtown library and Centre Celf in Llandrindod Wells. We are disabled-led but we are open to all.

We have recently changed our logo to a dragon who’s a wheelchair user, this has sparked us into doing a series of dragon paintings. These will be on display and for sale at our fundraising event on July 20th at Oriel Davies, Newtown. There will also be a ‘secret art sale’ of decorated postcards in sealed envelopes. The postcards have been decorated by Celf-Able members and also artists Andrew Logan, Mary Lloyd-Jones, Linda Jane James, David Bannister and Steffan Jones-Hughes. We also have a ‘Lucky Squares’ raffle for original artworks and limited edition reproductions by Brian Jones, Linda Jane James, Steffan Jones-Hughes and others. We are very lucky that Andrew Logan recently agreed to be our first patron.

Artist Linda Jane James has made a temporary dragon mascot for us and s/he needs a name, so we have a ‘name the dragon’ raffle too. We hope to get funding to make a permanent mascot soon.

We have been hand-decorating mugs to sell to raise funds, members have decorated them with lots of different designs. This was my idea, I donated some plain white mugs to the group and we have been using Posca paint pens to decorate them. When baked in the oven the paint becomes permanent (although not dishwasher-proof). Members have enjoyed decorating the mugs with their designs.

Recently we had a stall at Llanfair Carnival, we sold donated items and brought the dragon mascot for its first outing, we also had original art for sale. With grants ever harder to get we have been increasing our activity to raise our own funds.

I was one of the founding members of Celf-Able back in 2014, we developed out of a group on Celf o Gwmpas’s Artist Training and Mentoring scheme. We wanted to carry on meeting when that project ended so we set up on our own. Celf-Able has grown a lot since then and we have had many activities as well as our regular meetings. We had a trip on Welshpool canal and also a horse-drawn canal boat trip in Llangollen. We hope to get funding to go on some day trips to galleries in Aberystywth, Machynlleth, Birmingham and Walsall, we will then produce artwork inspired by the trips.

I fell into the role of voluntary co-ordinator and have had to learn how to make grant applications and do various admin and co-ordinating tasks. This has been very demanding at times but I have gained a lot of project management skills. I would quite like to study a course on project management to get a qualification. I have also grown in confidence, personally and as an artist, so although it can be hard work and stressful at times I still get a lot out of Celf-Able, and have made lots of new valued friends. I enjoy the meetings as it’s a time I set aside to do art, mixing with like-minded people. I have been encouraged to study for the MA Fine Art at Wolverhampton, this is nearing completion now, I would never have had the confidence to do this without Celf-Able. I’m even looking into going on to do a PhD, on disability arts and society.

I really enjoy seeing other people grow in confidence too. Sometimes people are very apprehensive when they first come to the group but after a few sessions they start to relax and enjoy their creativity. It’s also good for Celf-Able to connect with other organisations. We attend a variety of networking events locally and further afield, such as Aberystwyth and Chester. We are going to be a case study group for ArtWorks Cymru’s Quality Principles, this work starts in July.

We are holding two ‘Beth Am Gael Tro/Have A Go’ workshops at Llanfair Caereinion Institute, Upcycling on July 27th and Creative Writing on August 17th, these will be led by members who have gained the confidence to run workshops through the group. So a busy time ahead, but we do it for the love of art!

Many thanks to Amanda for the latest news on this thriving disability-led arts group. 

Celf-Able now has a Powys Lotto page - you can support local causes and have a chance of winning prizes with the local lottery. You can find out more about the organisation by phoning 01938 810058 or emailing: admin@celf-able.org

Social prescribing - a pilot project in South Powys

Rhiannon Davies is known to many people as she was, for many years, the very active chair of Brecon Dementia Friendly Community. Recently Rhiannon has moved on to a new role in the voluntary sector in South Powys, as a link worker for a very particular project at Brecon & District Mind. I was interested to find out more, as social prescribing is becoming increasingly recognised as an important service to complement more traditional health services at the local GP surgery.

What is social prescribing?

Social prescribing recognises that people’s lives and health are affected by social, economic and environmental factors and these needs have to be taken into account for our wellbeing. Looking at people holistically and addressing these things takes extra time. So rather than just having a prescription for a medicine, social prescribing can help you to access a wide range of support and activities in the local community to ensure your needs are being met.

Tell us more about your role with Brecon & District Mind

I am a link worker providing a new service, provided by Brecon and District Mind, in Brecon Medical Practice on Thursdays, and Crickhowell Medical Centre on Tuesdays. It’s called Social Prescribing and it aims to help you get the support you need, when you need it, to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

Why might someone need this service?

Maybe big life decisions are making you worry, so you might want to approach the decisions differently. If you are feeling lonely you might like to make new friends. If you have money problems, you might like to be more in control of your finances. If you are feeling stressed, anxious and depressed you would probably like to sleep better and feel more relaxed.

Everyone needs some help from time to time to overcome life’s challenges. The answer lies in finding the right support at the right time.

Who can be referred to the Social Prescribing service and how?

If you are over 18 and registered with either Brecon or Crickhowell Medical Practices you can ask for a Social Prescribing patient pack at the surgery reception and make a self-referral by completing a consent form. 

Sarah James, Link Worker and Helen O'Donovan, Administrator

How does Social Prescribing work?

Once you have completed a consent form, as a link worker, I will contact you to arrange an appointment at the surgery. When we meet, you can then spend time with me, letting me know your circumstances, how you are feeling, what matters to you and what you think might help to improve your wellbeing. 

Using my knowledge of community support and services, I will then help you to connect to the appropriate local community and voluntary groups, activities and advice services. This could range from wellbeing activities in your local community, housing / benefits / financial support and advice, art or music activities, support groups covering things like bereavement, relationship issues, stress or mindfulness, walking or running groups, and peer support from others who have similar experiences. 

After about three months you will have a final follow-up phone call or meeting so we can see the impact the service has had.

Why was this project set up?

This social prescribing service is part of a joint research project between Mind Cymru and local Minds, funded by Welsh Government. Understanding how social prescribing can help people overcome stress and anxiety is really important in deciding how best to develop medical services in the future. So as part of the process you will be asked some questions about how you are feeling, and your experiences before and after you have used the service.

We know that social prescribing has really helped people in other areas. By taking part in this initiative those who participate are contributing to important evidence that will help plan future health services. All collected data is anonymous.

Is this service available in other parts of Powys?

My colleague, Sarah James, is allocated link worker for Hay and Talgarth surgeries, but Brecon and District Mind is still waiting for the green light before setting up the service there. Ystradgynlais Mind is also part of the research project and has two link workers working in a similar way to Brecon and District Mind.

Which organisations do you work closely with in Powys to provide support to people?

These are early days as the service has only been running for a few weeks, but already I have made referrals to a number of local voluntary organisations, housing, Brecon Leisure Centre, Brecon Job Centre, volunteering groups, a walking group, an art group, the Centre for Long-term Condition Management and Brecon Mind Community Wellbeing service to name a few! The list of potential organisations we have collated to date is well over seventy!

What kind of feedback are you getting from people about the project?

So far the feedback has been very positive, and people are genuinely grateful to have access to such a resource. As I said, the service is still in its infancy, so we hope the numbers accessing the service will build as the word gets out.

What are the main challenges of the role?

Not knowing who is going to come through the door, it’s really important to stay open minded and really listen, so you are not just hearing what people say, but what they mean. Because it’s a new service, making sure all the healthcare professionals are aware of what it can offer and its benefits, so they see it as a regular part of their referral pathway in delivering healthcare is a genuine challenge – as is trying to fit everything in in just two working days a week!

Tell us about some of the most rewarding work you have done in the role so far

I have met some fantastic people to date. People who struggle to see their own strengths and just need some encouragement and support to find what they already have within themselves. Being part of that process and seeing them genuinely engage and take responsibility, setting themselves goals and then, with some extra knowledge and understanding, move forward is hugely rewarding and inspiring.

When you are not working for Brecon & District Mind, how do you enjoy spending your time?

Reading, going to concerts and listening to music, walking our dog, gardening, doing volunteer work within my own community, being with friends and family. Juggling and balancing are my two constant challenges, but I’m up for it as long as I’m learning!

If you want to find out more about the Social Prescribing service you can contact Rhiannon by emailing: rhiannon@breconmind.org.uk or ring: 01874 611529 / 07487 523992. Rhiannon is happy to answer individual questions or queries about the service or spread the word by talking to community groups.

Youth group - Mid Powys Mind

Lorna Jones runs the youth group at Mid Powys Mind, ably assisted by volunteer Abby Simms. The group is aimed at 16 – 25 year olds, and gives them a safe and supportive place to meet and talk about what’s bothering them. I recently met up with three of the young people who attend regularly to find out more about the group.

We’ve been going to the group since June last year which is when the very first meeting took place. We just do little bits of activities every week and it’s nice to get out. It’s in the Wellbeing Centre in Llandrindod and 5 to 7 of us are attending at the moment.

We’ve done pottery, art, games, we get to go on walks (that’s my favourite), and do Zentangle-mindfulness doodling. We do loads of different stuff, whatever we fancy, if we want to do something we just say. We plan quite far ahead and we’re all involved in structuring what we do. Some of us live further away so it’s not possible to get up every week, so we write down the dates that will be best for us.

Lorna Jones, Youth Worker Mid Powys Mind

It’s just nice to come somewhere and have a bit of a chat. It’s a safe place to go so if there is something on your mind, even if you don’t talk, Abby and Lorna talk it out of you. They pull it like a string! They pick up on your mood and always know when something is wrong. They’re very good, they’ve worked out who each of us are and what makes us tick and what doesn’t.

As it’s quite a friendly group we’ve all got to know each other really well so we’ve learned what to say and what not to say - what triggers other people. It’s good to be able to go somewhere and know that, hang on a minute, I’m not the only one who actually has to deal with something like this. I’ve gone and then learned that three people have actually had to do a very similar thing to what I’ve had to do. We’re all pretty close. We’re all treated the same way. Nobody is treated differently. Everyone has the same respect for each other.

Everyone’s problem is just as important as everyone else’s.

We didn’t know any of the others. It was new to all of us. It was a bit scary at the start but Lorna and Abby were really good at introducing everyone to each other. I think people have come out of their shells. When I came I didn’t really want to talk, I was very quiet, but now I don’t stop and others were very quiet too, wouldn’t say boo to a goose. We were all private and Lorna and Abby have brought our thoughts out of us. They make a relaxing, calming atmosphere.

Abby Simms, Mid Powys Mind volunteer, at a pot painting session

I’m quite a moody person and Lorna and Abby help us out with emotional and practical things. 

It’s good to get out of the house and away from everything else. To have a break. New people can just show up to the group. It’s a place we don’t have to go to have counselling, but we can go somewhere and just say “I feel crap today”. Even if you say “I don’t want to be here right now”. Okay, yes, alarm bells go off in their heads but they actually sit and listen to you. They make time to listen to you. Whereas in normal life we have busy parents who don’t have the time to do it, it’s good to have a place just for you which is your safe place.

In the past if we needed extra help Lorna signposted us to a different service, or if we were nervous Lorna contacted them for us. When I first came to the group, I was a bit of a mess and really struggled and Lorna put me in touch with Claire who works for Mid Powys Mind as a Recovery and Support Worker. I would not be here today if I hadn’t come to this group and met Lorna and Abby. I’ve learned to trust again, it’s taken a long time to get to where we are today, the good thing is you can have a joke with them. Some people have down days but the atmosphere isn’t down, there’s always something going on. 

Say there’s a new member and they don’t want to walk in with all of us in the room, if you speak to Lorna beforehand she will meet you outside first. It’s little things like that, and she prewarns us as well, some of us are quite nervous about meeting new people, they say you have to be nice! Those little things make a big difference.

Confidentiality is a huge thing and we all respect that. Though we have broken some rules…. Only phones! But we are teenagers!

There are activities planned for the next few weeks. We have Monopoly, another walk, we’ve walked around the Lake before, we get a newsletter with a list of options. It’s 2 hours every week. It’s open to anyone in the Mid and North Powys area aged 16-25 to come along.

Many thanks to the young people for telling me all about the Youth group at Mid Powys Mind. If you want to find out more about the group then contact Lorna by emailing youth@midpowysmind.org.uk or ringing 01597 824411. There is also a Youth group Facebook page.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2019

Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 13 - 19 May 2019

The theme this year is: Body Image

Jen Hawkins, my colleague in the Health & Wellbeing team here at Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, and I made short video for our Health Lift series. 

We explore the issues surrounding body image and how it impacts on our mental health, look at the main facts, consider who it affects, and suggest a few tips to encourage us to #BeBodyKind.

You can find out more about Mental Health Awareness Week and Body Image on the Mental Health Foundation's website.

Side by Side Cymru project – Mid Powys Mind

Launch of the Mid Powys Mind Side by Side project

A couple of weeks ago I attended the evening launch of Mid Powys Mind’s latest project – Side by Side Cymru. The project has received support from Mind Cymru and the Welsh Government. 

We learnt more about the initiative from various members of Mind staff who spoke on the night. They were joined by Kirsty Morgan, Assembly Minister for Brecon & Radnorshire in the Welsh Government. 

Mary Griffiths, Development Manager, Mid Powys Mind 

Mid Powys Mind is very excited and proud to be part of Side by Side Cymru. We are one of four hubs in Wales led by Mind Cymru. The MPM hub covers Mid and North Powys, and supports peer support. Peer support has always been an integral part of the services MPM offers. The connection to someone who is interested in similar things to you, or someone who has been through similar experiences, is a connection of equals and really invaluable. It is insightful and totally authentic. 

The support of peers can help people recover and to form friendships – so important for mental health and wellbeing in an increasingly isolating world. People who have used our services have told us time and again how they have benefited from the support of others who have really walked in their shoes. That is why MPM jumped at the chance to be involved in this project. Not just to support people who have their struggle with mental health in common, but all peers no matter what their shared interests or shared histories.

Powys is the most sparsely populated county in mainland UK and as a result of this we are often lacking in access to statutory services. This has been a huge driver in creating a large and active voluntary sector from sports clubs, to Young Farmers to Women’s Institutes, to village halls and U3A to name but a few. Powys has a lot of really good peer support going on already. MPM has seen the value of peer support and we believe if there is anything we can do to help it thrive even more we should be doing it.

Rachel Wyatt, Senior Project Officer, Mind Cymru

Peer support is about people using their own experiences to help other people and it’s great to hear there is so much diversity. It can happen in a group, on a 1:1 basis and also online as well but for this project we will be focusing on peer support that takes place face to face in a group situation. It’s about people taking a lead and taking control. So it’s a different model from more traditional health and wellbeing models because it is people in control and taking the lead very much on an equal basis. Through peer support we can feel valued, more connected to others, and more able to take control of our lives. 

Side by Side fits really well with Mind’s national strategy – Building on Change – the aim is for 100,000 people to access peer support opportunities across England and Wales by 2021. The project is very much based on previous work done in England that we are bringing into Wales. It was the biggest research project carried out on peer support in the UK as a whole. Over £3 million was invested, to understand some of the values that underpin peer support and to work out what people need. 

One of the important findings which is relevant to our work here in Wales is that peer support is often within groups and people who take responsibility and control in the groups and publicise the work they are doing – these doers really need a little bit of extra support themselves. So these are the people we will be targeting as part of this project.

Something else that also came out was the development of a toolkit for peer support which is freely available on the Mind website. It gives practical help, advice and some interactive activities in terms of things you can do practically in your groups to support each other.

Our aim with Side by Side Cymru is to improve the wellbeing of people experiencing mental health problems by improving the availability and quality of peer support available in the community. MPM is one of 4 local Minds working with Mind Cymru to deliver this project. Newport Mind, Merthyr & the Valleys Mind and Aberystwyth Mind are working across their areas of Wales.

We will be running a range of events and shared learning training workshops for people to cover different topics identified locally as being really important in relation to small community groups. Small grants are also available to start and develop groups.

The target audiences are people who are already delivering peer support within a group. We’d also like to hear from people not currently delivering peer support but are interested in doing so. There will be some specific targeted work involving people who are Welsh speakers, rural communities (farmers and the farming community), Black, Asian and minority Ethnic (BAME) communities and a male audience as well.

There is an independent evaluation as part of this project. We intuitively know there is something really helpful about peer support but trying to prove it is quite difficult. There has not been much research around peer support, so this is a really good opportunity to do some here in Wales.

One of the things that will be measured is people’s confidence – will it be improved by what is being delivered in Mid Wales, and if it has a knock-on effect for community groups in Powys. Does peer support improve people’s wellbeing, connections and hope for the future?

Lorna Jones, Side by Side Cymru Officer, Mid Powys Mind

I met with a lady the other day who said – we don’t do anything. We only meet and have coffee. So I said I would come along and take a look. So I went, and there were between 15 and 25 people having coffee in a village hall with two ladies thinking they were doing nothing amazing. To me they were doing everything amazing. They were giving up their time. Nobody was paying them any money. And the people having coffee were very isolated in a very rural village. What people do voluntarily is unrecognised. This project is a way of recognising this. 

What has really blown me away is that one of the first questions people ask is “what is the training I can have to help my group / club?” The stigma of mental health is much less than it used to be and people are willing to admit that if we meet that’s good for our mental health. This is as much about preventing poor mental health as us coming in later to support that mental health. We all have mental health.

It can be a rugby club… a dementia group… a carers' group… or a Parkinson’s group… all the Young Farmers' Clubs in Radnorshire have signed up. You can also set up new groups in your community -  there are grants to support the group to continue. We cannot go in to the workplace. However, if a social group is set up outside the workplace where people can meet that is fine.

My vision is to set up a community of support within support, so in each group there is always someone who can help someone. Some organisations are offering use of their venue free of charge. That’s huge. A big cost of running your group is the cost of a venue.

People are so willing to help. But we need to network that information. Over the next 15 months we will make those connections in the community so that we can all support and help each other.

If you have decided that your group would like to apply or have some support you can register your interest online and apply for a grant if you want one. There is a list of eligible items. Cash is not available or funding to pay members of staff. Items will be given out at quarterly network events. Attendance at these is not compulsory, but if you invest your thoughts and ideas at an event we can build on this.

I work in the Wellbeing Centre in Llandrindod. I can also come out to your group and talk to you. The training will incorporate the tool kit but also confidentiality, safeguarding, boundaries, self-care and basic mental health awareness. We will signpost people to further training as required.

Kirsty Morgan, Assembly Minister, Welsh Government

There is often a place for prescription drugs and medicine to support people but there are other options that should and could be made available to individuals to help them recover and maintain their mental health and wellbeing. This project is part of the attempt by Welsh Government to support alternative approaches to mental wellbeing by looking at different ways in which we can support people recover and maintain good mental wellbeing.

Kirsty Morgan AM speaks at the Side by Side project launch in Llandrindod Wells

I know that after a really stressful day at work I can rely on the fellow mums and dads and the kids at the Young Farmers’ Club to raise me up and help me forget about all that stress and strain. I know that there is nothing better for my mental health than forgetting about what has happened during the day and spend the evening painting sets, sewing costumes and making cups of tea and coffee for amazing young people that live in our community. That makes me feel like a human being. That makes me feel normal and well to be in that group.

I know how valuable these organisations, and being part of something, can help you significantly. If we can help more groups become even more adept and more sustainable and better at providing that network of support that can only be a good thing. There is a fantastic network of volunteers who are doing amazing things day in day out.

I am absolutely convinced that providing an evidence base to what’s happening here will be really important in informing public policy in this area moving forward.

For further information about the Side by Side Cymru project contact Lorna Jones at Mid Powys Mind by ringing 01597 824411 or emailing hub@midpowysmind.org.uk or check out the Side by Side Cymru Facebook page.

Dementia mapping project - Powys

My colleague Sue Newham, who is the Engagement Officer for Powys Association of Voluntary Organisation's Health & Wellbeing team, talks to Jenny Hall about the Dementia mapping project she recently completed in Powys in this short video.

Find out more about the PAVO Community Connector team.

Read about the last Powys Dementia Network Day, which focused on housing for people living with dementia in Powys.

Emerging Proud in Powys

by guest author Caroline Andrews

On Tuesday 2 April I took the plunge and held a film screening at the Friends' Meeting House here in Llandod. The film? “Emerging Proud: coming out of the Spiritual Closet."

For my whole adult life, I’ve walked a balance of being “here and yet not here”. In the world and yet not of it. Having experienced a prolonged spiritual awakening after the second year in university, yet being treated like I was wrong and ill, I tried to dumb myself down and “fit in”, playing it safe.

A few years later, however, my soul had other ideas and another download of information, energy and spiritual awareness occurred. Once more, I was treated like I was ill and slightly “wrong”, forcibly injected with toxins and locked away, to awaken with my senses deadened and feeling this time like nothing that felt important to me was safe to explore.

A year later I had clawed some light back in to my life and re-gained my confidence though once more experienced a prolonged peak state that landed me one more time in hospital.

This time, I had the support of a loving partner, and a deep knowing inside that this was a spiritual awakening. “One flew over the cuckoo's nest” sprang to mind as I set to have as much fun with the other “inmates” as possible until I managed to set up a tribunal. Luckily I was released before it came to court.

10 years later, I’m showing a screening of a film that speaks volumes about my own journey and the profound times we are living in. People from all over the world speaking about their experiences and how the labels they were given vastly underestimated the value of their profound and revealing life changing experiences. Time after time, we hear from people that validation of their path was the most helpful part of their journey, in opposition to the treatment by the psychiatric system that would dumb down and medicate the person creating invalidation and inner turmoil.

The campaign whose name echoes the film title, Emerging Proud, was started by Katie Mottram, also author of “Mend the Gap”. In her book, Katie shares her own experiences in life, from being a carer in the mental health system to being herself an experiencer, and her realisation that the spiritual aspect of the journey was often overlooked though sometimes the most valuable part of the experience.

I trained with Katie through the organisation Emerging Proud to become an Emerging Kind peer group facilitator. In these peer groups we share from the heart, and listen without judgement. This is a safe space, where there are no labels, just love and acceptance for each other. Last year I ran a group here in Llandrindod Wells for 10 months. There were tears and a lot of laughter and for me a profound sense of home. Having felt so alone for my whole adult life, I had finally found a place to share my experiences without fear of being re-sectioned or ridicule.

Now in its second year, I have created a new peer group, based on the attendees of the film screening and at present, we are full to capacity. If you’d like to join the group, I can keep you on the waiting list. The film itself is worth watching for a life changing feeling of seeing people all around the world experiencing exactly what I did. Check it out for yourself here:

And find out more about Emerging Proud here.

“Times, they are a-changing,” and so should the solutions to our challenges. Emerging Proud supports the growing notion that mental health crisis is in fact an invaluable and life changing experience and with the right support and encouragement we may all come out the other side transformed like the butterfly, spreading our wings to take on a new horizon.

To find out more about Emerging Proud in Powys, contact Caroline by emailing carolinemaryandrews@hotmail.com or ringing 07749 232 366.