A very talented client in our New Horizons Service, Foyle, created these fantastic art pieces as part of the CCEA Creative Crafts Level 3 Project.
The final pieces comprise 5 skulls reflecting different feelings and thought processes from being unwell, feeling caged or paranoid through to happiness and love.
We never cease to be impressed by the creativity and skills shown by our clients!
Ned Jackson Smyth, Artist and Art Tutor at our New Horizons Service in Bangor, has been working with a group of individuals living with mental health issues on a new bronze casting project.
The group explored the idea of “Healing” and developed their concepts through carving and drawing what represented healing to each individual.
Over the following weeks, as the works developed and new skills were acquired, the participants demonstrated increasing confidence in their ideas.
Working at the foundry offered a completely new experience for all raising self-esteem as each person witnessed their own casts coming to fruition!
And here is a lovely poem written by one of our talented Bangor clients, T. Reid, following the Bronze Casting Project:
Rory was awarded the title of CCEA Craft winner of 2012, yet to talk to him is the most humbling experience you can imagine. Rory has managed a severe mental health condition for many years, he can recall the days in which he just longed for the day to be over, but talking to him now leaves you inspired by his positive can-do approach.
Rory lives in Limavady in a housing scheme , the sense of belonging and support both from staff and fellow residents is evident in his conversation, he also recalls that he relies on several different businesses and voluntary sources to enable him to grasp his goals, he talks of his work based training placement at KMC,
“the boys there are brilliant!”
“I really look forward to the craic and being treated like all the other employees”.
Similarly he talks about AMH New Horizons Foyle, its staff, clients and the activities he has used to support him on his personal journey. He recalls all that he has achieved there, completing several accredited training programmes, work based training placements, building his confidence and getting to grips with his condition, but mainly really enjoying life again.
“ Foyle New Horizons gave me a sense of being again, it was challenging at first, but with the help of staff, I worked at my own pace and was encouraged to do it my way, that’s not to say I didn’t seek advice now and again”.
Rory continued that when he found out he was nominated for the award he was gobsmacked, but to win just completely blew him away, Rory said he never expected to go to Lisburn and be acknowledged in the awards,
“it was a brilliant experience and one I really enjoyed, it was especially good to see the trophy sitting pride of place in my mother’s cabinet. I’m looking forward to the future , with even bigger and better things yet to come, my hope is if you are reading this, that it just might help you to do it your way ! ……….. With a little help from your friends!”
AMH Works will be delivering the next Health In Mind Personal Resilience workshop in Portaferry Library Tuesday 21st January, it’s FREE and everyone is welcome! To book your place contact Health in Mind. 02890395980 [email protected]
Health in Mind brings together Libraries NI, Aware Defeat Depression, Action Mental Health, MindWise and CAUSE. By working together and using our expertise we support people to learn more about mental health and how to look after their wellbeing. Health in Mind is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
Alcohol misuse has a widespread impact on our society, effecting individuals, families and the wider community as a whole. The Western Health and Social Care Trust has welcomed Big Lottery Funding of £1,198 million for projects in the Western area that have been set up to address alcoholism and help those with alcohol related problems.
This allocation of this significant funding to the Western Regional Alcohol Prevention Programme (WRAPP) will enable community and voluntary based projects included in the portfolio to address the harm caused by alcohol misuse. It will also allow organisations with the skills and expertise to tackle this problem locally.
Health Minister Edwin Poots said;
“Alcohol misuse is one of the biggest public health challenges we face. It increases the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and liver disease and can also lead to poor mental health and self-harm. Every year, there are over 12,000 hospital admissions with an alcohol-related diagnosis and it causes additional pressures on our emergency departments, with eight out of ten attendances due to alcohol-related injuries or problems.
Alcohol misuse has a devastating impact on our society – first and foremost to the individuals directly affected and their families and communities. But it also has a major impact on the health service, on social care, on the economy and on the criminal justice sector. In fact, a report commissioned by my Department highlighted that alcohol misuse alone costs us up to £900 million every year and almost £250 million of these costs are borne by the Health and Social Care Sector.”
Director of Adult Mental Health and Disability Services at the Western Trust, Trevor Millar said:
“The majority of the grant (80%) has been allocated to community and voluntary based projects and 20% allocated for a Trust based project The Western Trust welcome the £1.2 million investment grant by the Big Lottery to enable a number of vital projects to be undertaken to reduce the harm to those affected by alcohol misuse. The projects will build the capacity of the community/voluntary sector, encourage innovative practice and promote better solutions to tackle alcohol problems.
“The portfolio of projects are additional to current service and will target groups relating to alcohol service through education and prevention – enabling early intervention, better use of existing resources and on-going access to services”
WRAPP incorporates six Community and Voluntary sector projects (including 2 in AMH) and one Trust project as follows:-
1. Catalyst Project – Solace, Arch Healthy Living Centre, Irvinestown
2. Community Mobilisation Project, Derry Healthy Cities, Strabane
3. Alcohol Support Project (Time Out) – AMH New Horizons Fermanagh
4. Alcohol Outreach Project (Quest) – AMH New Horizons Foyle
5. Supporting Families Supporting Communities Project – Action for Children,
6. The Fasten Programme – North West Counselling & Divert,
The Trust project was identified at an early stage and it was agreed across the Directorates that the 20% of the grant awarded would be allocated to a project on the study of Alcohol Related Brian Disorder (ARBD). ARBD presents many social difficulties in the community for the individual, their family and traditional Trust services. Often described as an invisible condition, it is complex in its nature and has far-reaching consequences for the individual.
Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, adds:
“We are delighted that the Impact of Alcohol programme is supporting community based projects that are playing a key role in tackling alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland.
“By working with the Western Trust we are building on existing experience and expertise in this area and using this funding to tackle the range of issues affecting people, families and the wider community that have resulted from alcohol misuse.”
AMH New Horizons in Newry held an event with the Reach Project (SHSCT) – “Be Positive for Christmas”, at Ballybot House in Newry. Anne Donnelly was one of the guest speakers, there was financial advice for the festive season, health checks and a beauty workshop!
Lesley Kirkpatrick from Tesco, visited AMH New Horizons in Antrim recently to teach some of our clients the art of decorating Christmas cakes and fairy cakes.
Meanwhile, in Larne, our outreach clients received certificates from Mayor of Larne Borough Council, Maureen Morrow – Congratulations to all!
Ordinarily, a Tuesday night at Lisburn Distillery Football Club grounds might see a group of young boys come together for football practice or to watch a game. However, Tuesday 10th December saw them come together to look after their mental, rather than their physical, health.
Action Mental Health (AMH) delivered the first of a series of workshops in Mental Health Awareness for 14-19 year old boys. The “Provoking Thought” workshops are funded by The Big Lottery Fund as part of the Together For You project which is led by AMH. The project team works closely with schools, colleges and other agencies to promote positive mental health among young people, through the provision of information and resources.
During the workshops project staff provide an interactive presentation to enhance the young people’s understanding of mental health and highlight its relevance and importance for their lives. Group discussion then offers an opportunity to reflect on major sources of stress and identify possible coping strategies. Last year the MensSana workshops were delivered to over 5,000 young people.
The good working relationship between AMH and local businesses and organisations like Lisburn Distillery has been nurtured by the New Horizons Service in Derriaghy, and Employment Officer Andrea Warwick is hoping the success of such partnerships will encourage others to contact the organisation. She said;
“Action Mental Health works to improve the health & well being of people with mental health needs, by creating opportunities for progression towards independence and ultimately re-enter the workplace. Increasing placement opportunities is therefore a vital part of the work our Employment Officers do. We are really pleased with the great working relationship we have established with Lisburn Distillery and other local organisations. These workshops are just one of the ways we can return that support.”
Last year AMH helped 67 clients to gain employment, 52 clients moved on to further training/education programmes and 84 clients undertook voluntary work.
If you are a local business or organization who would like to know more about offering placement, fundraising or other support to AMH, contact Andrea on 028 9062 9759.
Together For You is funded by the Big Lottery Fund Northern Ireland. The project, led by Action Mental Health (AMH) in association with Aware Defeat Depression, CAUSE, CRUSE, MindWise, Nexus, PraxisCare and Relate NI, will promote mental health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland and provide a range of services in new and innovative ways.
