Lock down legend Winners award  

The Royal  Albert Memorial Museum ( COVID 19)

Who are we? 

i am a from Exmouth who is collaborating with other woman in the community with a history of working with vulnerable children to the elderly. impassionate about delivering therapeutic arts and crafts workshops that promote mental wellbeing and connection. During COVID-19 we are also running a project called ‘isolation community creation’.

What are we doing?

During COVID-19 i have been creating a community movement called ‘Isolation Community Creations’ and distributing free arts and crafts packs through community groups, charities, social media and anyone that would like a pack. We have created a FB so the people we reach can share their creations on the site. We will be putting up tutorials, videos and encouraging all people from the community to stay in touch via this site. This has already begun and we are working with ‘Open Arms Mental health Charity’, ‘ECI’ and ‘Friends in need’ as well as much more interest and progression in such a short time.  

i would like to raise money for an arts and crafts community bus so we can reach people in the community that would normally be isolated and bring the workshops to them. With experience of delivering workshops to mental health groups, youth clubs, schools, children in care and many more this funding will be put to great use.  

During Covid19 ,iwould love to bring the bus to community  in their streets,social  distancing ,with inspiring beautiful singing, with a menu of arts and craft kits to  choose from ,where people can see us ,using social distancing , sitting in their gardens, nursing homes etc ..,  teaching them to create art having a fun ,therapeutic colourful  day , for their health and wellbeing ! .

Why its important?

My inspiration for starting the Art and Crafts community bus was watching my mum deteriorate with Parkinson’s Disease. It made me determined to bring arts and crafts to the most vulnerable and isolated in our community. My mum was a vibrant, outgoing woman who would regularly attend events in the community. When she got ill and became immobile it was devastating for her as she was lonely, isolated and bored with life. I was thankfully able to do therapeutic art sessions from her armchair at home even into the later stages of her illness. It gave her real joy and purpose in a time when there was not a lot of joy or purpose to her life. It would give me so much pleasure to see the same difference made to others in the community, as it did my mum before she finally passed away. 

How is it going to happen?

i have been applying for funding through the council and using donations and so far we have reached 200 people with our free arts& crafts kits!

The waiting list is growing by hundreds each day, now other communities throughout devon want us to help them ,we have even been asked for art packs from families in America!!

until i reach out target for our bus we cant reach out to other communities 

yet!!

m’y project is going from strength to strength, day by day , if we can get the bus ,we can help thousands , across are community ,and help set up are model of therapeutic arts and craft packages all over the uk . 

Here are some examples of the workshops we have delivered:

A little bit of extra information about past

I have a wealth of experience in art, craft and design. This is from the extensive skills and training that I have received and developed over the past 25 years. My background is in interior design, mixed media, precious metal clay and silversmithing.

For the the last 5 years We have been delivering highly successful arts and crafts therapy workshops, working with the community producing art installations and teaching recycling through art. Our mission is to support clients and groups with arts and craft sessions that focus on delivering a therapeutic experience.We have been working alongside local organisations in East Devon. This includes councils, charities, mental health groups/mental health workers, schools, youth groups, nursing homes and festivals just to name a few!! We can deliver training and workshops to large groups and on a one to one basis. The participants range from very young children to retired adults, of all abilities. Techniques vary in difficulty, from simple paint and tie dying techniques to intricate fine jewellery silversmithing. We are incredibly passionate about teaching people how to help the environment by using recycled materials and turning them into inspiring works of art.Our values are to inspire others through art therapy. Creating a relaxed environment and allowing experimenting with a creative approach. We encourage testing out different mediums and techniques in art, craft and design in a fun creative atmosphere.

No matter who the client, the results are always the same. Not only are new skills learnt but the joy of crafting and being part of a group activity is always felt by participants. Mindfulness and wellbeing is at the heart of everything We do. The positive impact it has on all those involved is what keeps us motivated and why we simply love what we do

A mobile art bus will be the central hub for our work. It will allow us to visit more people, deliver a wider range of crafts and create more positive difference in the community.

Being mobile will allow us to access the most isolated and lonely members of the community. We can hold the workshops in the art bus or in the comfort of their own homes. The bus will be specially adapted to allow access to wheelchairs and those with mobility  or disabilities.

MENTAL HEALTH GROUP

Testimonial 

As Coordinator of Open Arms East Devon it is a privilege to work with Hayley. Her enthusiasm and work with vulnerable people within the group has made her an essential part of the group. Her work rate and devotion to her work has helped so many of our group become more confident and creative . We could not do without her and will continue to involve her. I cannot recommend her enough.    Garry Wakeham

Open Arms , mental health

Community mural working with local schools and mental health charities 

Testimonial 

   Therapeutic home workshops created for  people with health issues ,feeling lonely    and isolated

ISOLATED CLIENT

Testimonial

• creating group sessions for people with mental health and curating exhibitions to show case the groups work for self worth and therapeutic well being .

 Mental health Art exhibition

Testimonials

What a wonderful result , so inspiring , great leadership. Win Honiton 

 Repeat client

 Testimonial 

Children’s nursery

Testimonials 

Hayley has been coming into Discovery nursery this year , working with all the children on mini art projects and transforming the secret garden into a magnificent recycled festival garden.

The children have really enjoyed all the new creative activities Hayley has been bringing in.especially decorating a bike and making a magic rainbow tree .

Hayley is such a inspiration to the children and the staff have been really excited about what she has been doing ,and the excitement passes on to everyone else .

We can’t wait to see Hayley every Thursday with her amazing inspiring talents ,creating with the children and staff to finish off our festival

Creating  this mural for the esteem team 

Mental health for  children

testimonial 

Hayley has been so inspiring to help us ,that’s we are going give back  x Jenna esteem teem.

Covid19 , what have we been doing ?

Since covid19 we have been working day and night, reaching out to people in need ,Giving out, to over 4000 people .free arts and craft kits , to help with therapeutic  ,mindfulness and wellbeing .Children  with disabilities , adults and children with mental health,
schools, nursing homes and anyone in need benefited from these art packs

Each week , we are still helping others in need , doing video call workshops ,offering free art and craft advice, from the oracle of arts and craft ,herself , Hayley Watson