Focusing Minds
Funded by
The Focusing Minds project aims to help adults in Reading who are experiencing mental health issues. The project offers friendly learning opportunities to encourage participation in creative activities, build supportive networks, and change perceptions of mental illness in the community. Participants take part in a wide range of creative activities, video production and editing, photography, digital storytelling, animation, drama and more.
The project aims to:
• Encourage more people with mental health issues to take part in creative activities
• Build sustainable networks of support for more people with mental health issues
• Change perceptions of mental illness by wider positive engagement in the community
How to get involved
Participants
There are weekly planning and activities workshops on a Tuesday, from 6-7pm at 21 South Street Arts Centre, plus specially organised activities, and one-to-one and small group peer support.
The project offers innovative ways for individuals to gain skills and confidence, especially for those who find more traditional courses or learning environments difficult. The sessions are designed to be as inclusive as possible, with no expectation on participants. Mostly we use visual methods and aim to minimise any written work. We are used to working with people who may struggle with English.
We know it can be hard to start something new, so we’re very happy to meet anyone beforehand, one-to-one, to chat about what taking part might involve. We encourage people to bring along carers, friends or family to support them. We also welcome referrals via social prescribing.
Please contact Tom or Clive at Real Time if you’d like to find out more:
Organisations
If you know someone who might benefit from the project, just get in touch. We are also keen to collaborate with community partners who might benefit from Focusing Minds creating content, and sharing their stories. We can offer workshops and content production in video, photography, web design and social media digital storytelling, etc.
This initiative aims to benefit adults with mental health issues by providing creative learning opportunities and then linking them with local voluntary groups to widen their social network and apply their skills for community benefit.
Through this, we aim to build a wider social network for all the participants, meeting new people and experiencing new activities and environments.
Here are some examples of Real Time/Open Mind films, made with community partners.
Over the coming year Focusing Minds will be offering:
• Access workshops: For people with mental health issues in content production including video, photography, digital storytelling and digital media.
• Mentoring and peer support: Ongoing guidance, either one-to-one or in small groups from creative professionals and mental health advocates.
• Collaborative projects: At least 4 group-based creative projects with community partners in Reading.
• Public events: Awareness raising via sharing of creative outputs.
Focusing Minds is funded by the John Sykes Foundation