Category Archives: News
Testimonial to Hannah Ford
Reachout’s Arts Resource Worker, Hannah Ford, has sadly finished her contract and we have got a few words from her and our members to say just how much she meant to us.
Hannah’s Words
“During my time at Reachout I have benefited immensely from the training and opportunities given to me covering a vast selection of topics.
The Training budget I received paid for me to take three college courses at City of Glasgow College. I initially took a vintage accessories course and a metalwork jewellery course. In the vintage accessories course I learned dressmaking and pattern building skills. The jewellery course taught me how to make Bespoke silver pieces using skills like soldering and forming the metal. This is something I have wanted to learn for a long time, and enjoyed it so much I took the advanced follow up course thanks to the training budget. The skills I learned one these courses are ones which I can use to hold workshops and further my career as an artist.
This budget also allowed me to have a year working with Craig Machan, Business Arts Consultant for Balado Arts. Craig supported me to develop a business plan for myself as an artist and showed me how to go about setting up my website, branding myself and valuing my work. This opportunity has been essential to me developing myself as an artist and I feel its set me up well and given me goals and directions to follow. I now have a good Idea of where I want to go with my career and how to go about getting there.
Other Training Opportunities I have had include ‘Mental Health First Aid’, ‘Inclusive Communication’, ‘Child Protection level 1’, ‘Introduction to Social Enterprise in the Creative Sector’ led by SENSCOT, and ‘Make a Splash’. These have helped me develop myself to be able to work with people, and more specifically people with ill mental health or disabilities. This will help to increase my employability and open up a wider range of job opportunities to me”.
Some words from 4 of our members
Recently I have really enjoyed how Hannah helped me make bangles, my niece was showing everyone. It’s good having someone in the base. It’s handy having someone to ask for help, someone to be there. Someone that you look on as a friend as you get to know them. I’ve started already to divulge my life. I didn’t feel like I was being watched. On trips away it was good having a member of staff to come away with us.
Good help and support. It’s nice for a young person to have a chance. If I felt intimidated by staff I wouldn’t cope well. Having someone in the base is someone to talk to for people who are vulnerable. It helps with paranoia to have someone who is familiar and friendly. I can get scared and unsure. I like familiar faces and continuity. On day trips it was good having a member of staff to take the responsibility as I get anxious.
it’s essential for new members. Before new members went straight into a strange environment. Having someone there eases you in and helps encourage you in a gentle way. I was frightened when I first came along as it was a strange place. Having someone there makes it less intimidating. Someone to encourage and bring out the skills of the individual which is very important.
It helped having a member become arts resource worker because they knew everyone socially, it was a friendly face. It’s nice having someone who hovers about and watches. There is no pressure and that is important for mental health. We need someone who is subtle and gentle.
I feel its beneficial to office staff. Before Lesley and Lynda were always having to come away from their work to find stuff.
Our Enterprise is now Recruiting!
Our trading arm The Makers Gallery & Bistro is now recruiting for new staff.
All the information on the jobs available is currently on the website. Feel free to check out our new page and our facebook and twitter specially for The Makers Gallery & Bistro.
Mannequin Wanted
We are looking for donation or use of a Mannequin for one of Hannahs Workshops. The challenge is to create a life sized replica of people dining in a bistro all created out of plaster and crochet which will be a main feature in the new Makers Gallery and Bistro. If anyone would like to donate or knows of anywhere we could try please do not hesitate to contact us.
Hannah Fords “branches” out
Our very own Queen of Crochet, Hannah Ford, has bagged a place in the paper along with the help of co-worker Kristiane Rodgerson to publicise her upcoming exhibition at the Smith Art Gallery in Stirling.
Hannahs exhibition will start on the 1st of June 2012.
Reachout Car Boot Sale
We will be holding our first ever car boot sale in our own car park on Sunday 22nd April. We will be open for cars at 8am at a cost of £10 per car and spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis. We expect spaces to be limited so get in early for a good spot.
There will also be refreshments available for sale.
There is a facebook event for this as well. Click Here.
For any more information please contact us
Newsletter March – April 2012
STUDIO UPDATES
Studio Reporting
Reachout is proud of the innovative and creative artworks which are being created our studio and as such have developed our Studio Monitoring to capture and record this.
Kristiane will now complete weekly reports recording all the workshops both planned and impromptu that takes place along with photographs of works in progress and finished artworks and members comments, feedback and thoughts for future workshops. If you do not wish your artworks to be photographed please let Kristiane know. Reporting on workshops enables Reachout to inform our funders of the activities we are carrying out and apply to new funders to develop and carry on future workshops and events.
Studio Times
Please can members be aware of Reachout Studio times. We are open Monday – Thursday 10am -4pm and Fridays 10am – 3pm. Reachout would like to ask members to work within these hours to enable staff to organise and prepare for the following day. Thanks for your support in enabling this. (Also due to staff shortages the studio may on occasions require to be closed earlier than times stated above and Reachout Board of Directors apologise for any inconvenience this may cause).
The Makers Village Toilets
Please ensure paper towels are not disposed of down any toilet as we have had a recent toilet flood.
Workshop Risk Assessments
Prior to each workshop planned or impromptu Hannah and/or Kristiane will complete a Workshop Risk Assessment Form. This will ensure all workshop participants are aware of the risks involved, are appropriately shown how to use any equipment required and the safe and appropriate disposal of any substances. We hope to encourage everyone to use our equipment safely and knowledgeably.
Storage of Completed Artworks
Just a reminder Reachout does not have adequate storage space to keep finished artworks. Our outdoor storage unit is not completely watertight and artworks can become water damaged and/or broken if placed outdoors, so as such we request you take finished artworks home.
Tiding up after a day in the studio
Thanks to everyone who continue to clear up and put away equipment and materials after your visit to the studio, Unfortunately not everyone is remembering to clean up, just a little reminder you are responsible for cleaning the equipment you use, safe storage of your artwork until you return (Hannah & Kristiane can provide you with a folio, drawer or box to keep your artwork in) and washing any cups or dishes you use. We do not as yet have a cleaner for the studio and appreciate everyone taking responsibility for helping to keep the space clean and litter free. Also, just a reminder member’s are responsible for their own belongings whilst in Reachout, please take care of any personal items.
REACHOUT POLICIES
Disposal of Equipment & materials surplus to Reachout’s requirements
Reachout Directors have agreed any equipment or materials no longer required by Reachout will be offered to members on a first come first served basis exchanged for a minimum donation of £5.00. If no members would like the item it will then be offered to a partner organisation with similar ethos of Reachout’s or given to charity shop.
Reachout unwanted books will be offered to members through a book sale in the studio at approx 20p per book donation after a 2 week period any remaining books will be taken to charity.
Please note all Reachout Policies are kept in a folder in the studio for members to view at any time.
Members Studio Meetings
Next meeting Monday 5th March at 1pm held in the studio
Members meetings will be held monthly in Reachout Studio for the purpose of planning and developing new creative workshops, events and outreach collaborative projects. If you would like to add any suggestions to the Agenda please see Hannah and Kristaine.
Board of Directors Meetings Organisational Issues
Any other issues or concerns regarding Reachout should be brought to the attention of Reachout Board of Directors, please alert staff of any issues you would like to add to the Agenda for Reachout Board of Director meetings, which take place monthly or if available Directors will attend members meeting and discuss any issues after the studio meeting has ended.
Ornamental fan- Sue Davies
Forthcoming Workshops
Please see the Workshop Timetable attached to the back of the newsletter.
Forth Valley Visual Artist in Residence – Lindsay Perth
CREATIVE Scotland and NHS Forth Valley are collaborating with Reachout & Artlink in a project involving patients and service users in a wide range of arts projects.
It will focus on three main priorities – creating artworks for hospital waiting areas and other spaces, commissioning arts projects for major public spaces and developing arts exhibitions and events programme.
Babs McCool, an artist and experienced project manager, has recently been appointed as charitable Arts and Wellbeing Co-ordinator, to take forward the initiative over the next three years.
Her post, which is funded by Creative Scotland with support from Forth Valley’s three local authorities – Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk – is based in Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert.
As part of a new Art Strategy, Babs has been liaising with Reachout to set up an artists-in-residence programme at FVRH and the Mental Health Resource Centre at Clackmannanshire Community Health Care Centre with Glasgow based media/radio artist Mark Vernon and Edinburgh based visual artist/photographer Lindsay Perth.
During 2012 and 2013 Lindsay and Mark will be working with patients, members of the public, volunteers, school students and staff on photographic art for temporary or permanent display and audio/radio works for broadcast on new interactive screens which will be installed at FVRH.
Babs said: “There is lots of evidence that involving patients in art can be very therapeutic as well as improving confidence levels and self-esteem. This not makes people feel better it can also aid their overall recovery”.
Lindsay has started to work with the ‘first photography group’ developing ‘Portraiture’ working with a group of 8 members from Reachout each Thursday. Lindsay is also keen to encourage members to work on their own photography projects and will host drop-in sessions for feedback and support. We look forward to working with Lindsay over the following year. If you would like to be involved please contact Kristiane on tel: 01259 214951 to find out more. Lindsay Perth website www.lippi.org
Libby Yule Painting Workshops
New volunteer Libby will be holding her first painting on Thursday 19th April from 1pm-3pm in the Reachout Studio. Workshops will run every Thursday for six weeks, ending on the 24th May.
Libby will be developing Painting and Pastel work.
Reachout Klacksun ‘Telling the stories in Music and Words’ 21st March 6 – 9pm
In collaboration with See-Me Scotland, Klacksun and Reachout members have been invited to work in partnership in ‘Telling the stories in Music and Words’. Members have been invited to tell their story in helping to reduce stigma and celebrate recovery stories. Workshops will include; Community Song Writing Workshop, Poetry Writing Workshops and Short Stories Writing. Members will be invited to have their story told at D’nisi, High Street, Alloa, 21st March 2012 6pm – 9pm in a night entitled ‘Telling the Stories in Music and Words’. Tickets will be on sale to the public who will be able to hear recitals of stories, poetry and music. James Mackenzie, Klacksun Involvement Development Worker will be supporting members in working towards this event although please note members will not be under any pressure to present their work themselves.
Development Group Meeting: 14th March 1pm – 3.30pm in Klacksun.
Song Writing Workshops: 6th, 13th, 15th & 20th March 2012, 1pm- 4pm in Klacksun. Members will be working with Gifford Lind of the Newmakars Trust who will be leading the workshops.
Short Stories Workshops: 9th March, 10am – 12pm in Klacksun.
Poetry Workshop: 16th March, 10am – 12pm in Klacksun.
Please contact James on 01259 215048 to confirm your place on all workshops’.
WW1 Project
Reachout have had a piece in the local newspaper appealing for people to come forward with any memories or photographs related to World War 1. Kristiane met with one man who kindly loaned some pictures and stories from his dad’s time in the war. This project is ongoing and Kristiane will update members with information as she gets it.
Weekly Craft Group.
Thursdays 1pm-3pm
Hannah will be starting a weekly craft group. This will be an open group for anyone who wants to work on their own projects or learn something new. Please speak to Hannah if you would like to suggest a specific craft for upcoming weeks. The first two will be Upcycled Clothing. Dates can be found on our workshop timetable.
Batik – Jordanne Mclean
Alva Academy Multi- Media Collaborative Project – Body Art
Friday 16th March 10am.
Reachout is delighted to be working with S5/6 pupils from ALVA ACADEMY Media Group to develop a short Reachout DVD. The project will film Reachout members participating in creating a collaborative large scale canvas made entirely out of painted body parts such as an arm, hand, foot etc….This is a great opportunity to get messy and have fun!! Reachout will provide plastic suits to wear but if you would like to participate please bring old clothes!
Filming will take place in Reachout studio on Friday 16th March 10am. The finished body art canvas will be exhibited on the back wall of the studio. There will be 3 pupils filming on the day and interviewing members….members do not have to appear on film, they can be interviewed using just their voice or not interviewed at all. We need a minimum of 8 members to take part in the project so please come along and have fun. For more information see Kristiane.
Members Fundraising Programme
Kristiane is supporting members to develop a fundraising plan to raise money for members to spend in the studio on creative projects, materials, equipment, outings and trips. With a little support from members we could raise large amounts of money to help members socialize, learn new skills and have fun!
Car Boot Sale – 22nd April
To kick start our fundraising we have organized a car boot sale that will take place in the car park outside & surrounding Reachout on Sunday 22nd April..it will be £10 per car and we will be open for cars at 8am.
Go Ape!
Hannah & Kristiane are arranging a sponsored ‘GO APE!’ Treetop Adventures at Aberfoyle.
Breathtaking scenery; a smattering of tree-top wires, crossings and wind-in-your-face zip wires; finished off with a dose of people in search of their inner Tarzan. ‘Go Ape’ kit people out, give them a safety briefing and training and let them out into the forest canopy, free to swing in the trees. Of course, instructors are always on hand. The result is spectacular. The Go Ape experience gets you out in the fresh air and it’s just great fun.
If you are interested in sponsoring staff or more information contact Hannah.
Request for Volunteers
Reachout is on the lookout for new recruits to support Volunteering Opportunities within the organisation, if you have a couple of hours a week spare and would like to support members to participate in workshops in the studio, outreach workshops across the Forth Valley, update our website, help clean the studio, transport members or materials, support leaflet drops, fundraising etc. Please get in touch.
Volunteers receive out of pocket expenses including travelling expenses and lunch. Call Reachout on tel: 01259 214951
The Makers Gallery & Bistro Update
For those of you who have been coming into Reachout you will notice the transformation of our building work of The Makers Gallery & Bistro. The building work is being carried out by local company’s who have been working with us to finalise plans. Our bespoke training kitchen is almost ready to be installed and the project is really starting to take shape. Our motto for this 5 year project is “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and we hope as time progresses the interior will continue to develop and diversify as the project grows. Our website has been tracking building work progress log on to: www.reachoutwithartsinmind.org.uk
We hope to be recruiting for the project staff end of March 2012. Posts required are Bistro Supervisor, Catering Assistant, Trainee Coordinator, Enterprise Coordinator and Artist In Residence/ Gallery Assistant.
For any further information please contact Lesley at Reachout on tel: 01259 214951.
Needle Felting – George Black
A Big Thank You To Lesley Glen
Volunteer Development Worker Lesley Glen’s post came to an end last month. We would all like to say a huge thank you to her for all of the work she did with us and all of the support she gave to everyone. Lesley has now moved into the catering industry and has opened a kitchen beside The Albion Bar on Barnton Street Stirling.
Best of Luck Lesley from all at Reachout!
Training Opportunities in partnership with Integrated Mental Health Services
Forthcoming training opportunities are filled on a first come first served basis please contact Reachout if you would like to attend any the training opportunities below:
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Training) 3rd & 4th May 2012 held in Stirling Community Hospital – FREE
The ASIST workshop is for those who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Over one million people have participated in this two-day, highly interactive, practical, practice-oriented workshop. Participation in the full two days is required. Enjoy small group discussions and skills practice that are based upon adult learning principles. Experience powerful videos on suicide intervention. Feel challenged and safe. Learn suicide first aid.
- Scottish Mental Health First Aid 2 day course (dates to be confirmed)- FREE
The S.M.H.F.A workshop enables participants to apply the 5 steps of SMHFA including
how to respond if you believe someone is at risk of suicide. How to give immediate help until professional help is available. What to say and do in a crisis. The importance of good listening skills, practice listening and responding. Understanding recovery from mental health problems. Understanding the connection between mental health problems and alcohol and drugs. Understanding the connection between mental health problems and discrimination, basic information about common mental health problems and Self help information.
- ‘Stress Control’ delivered by Clackmannanshire Integrated Mental Health Services
6 week course held in Forth Valley College 6.30 – 8pm – FREE
If you want to learn better ways to handle common problems such as anxiety, depression, low self-confidence, poor sleep and panic attacks then come along to Stress Control.
Stress Control is an evening class – not a group therapy – so you do not have to talk about your problems in front of others. You just sit back and learn some great ways to control stress. Each week, you will get handouts to take away as well as a free relaxation CD.
- ‘Living Life to The Full’ online course http://www.livinglifetothefull.com
The Living Life to the Full course is a life skills course that aims to provide access to high quality, practical and user-friendly training in life skills. The course content teaches key knowledge in how to tackle and respond to issues/demands which we all meet in our everyday lives Take a look at the Introduction Module to see the format of the course. The following outline gives an overview of the type of things the course covers: Understanding why we feel as we do. Practical problem solving skills. Using Anxiety Control Training relaxation. Overcoming Reduced activity . Helpful and Unhelpful behaviours. Using Medication effectively. Noticing unhelpful thoughts. Changing unhelpful thoughts. Healthy living – sleep, food, diet and exercise. Staying well.
Papier Mache Pig – Hannah Ford
Hannah Ford has announced her own Exhibition
Reachout’s Arts Resource Worker Hannah Ford has today announced that she will be launching her very own exhibition, entitled “Kaleidoscope.” Up until now Hannah has worked tirelessly with Reachout to aid recovery and to establish exhibition for our members and has finally decided to have an exhibition of her own.
Hannah’s exhibition will be held in the Gardens of The Smith Art Gallery in Stirling and will start on June 1st. This exhibition will showcase Hannah’s excellent experience with crochet and will offer the opportunity to view a rare type of exhibition by one of Alloa’s aspiring young Artists.
Reachout extends its congratulations and full support in this exhibition.
Hannah would like to ask if anyone has coloured wool that is able to be donated to help her with this fantastic exhibition she would be most appreciated. If you would like to donate or would like any more information please get in touch.
Lindsay Perth Workshop a Success
Forth Valley Artist in Residence Lindsay Perth had her first workshop today in the Reachout Studio.
This workshop was well received by a number of members and we will be looking forward to the next one.
The next workshop run by Lindsay Perth will be on Thursday 8th March at 11.30am . For more information do not hesitate to call.
Forth Valley Artist in Residence visiting Reachout Thurs 9th Feb
On Thursday 9th Feb at 12pm Forth Valley Artist in Residence, Lindsay Perth will be meeting with Reachout members in the Reachout Studio for a presentation and informal chat. Please feel free to come along to see the work of the new Artist in Residence and support her in her new post.
Lindsay has forwarded the following blurb,
Hello, I’m a photographer working with several mental health organisations in Clackmannanshire, including Reach Out. I will be giving an introduction to just some of my ideas for potential collaborations with Reach Out members that involve photography and possibly video.
I will be showing photography from the art world, photojournalism, the photograph in history and the many ways photography can be used as a means of expression. I’ll also show some of my own work and how I have used it to work with communities. This is less of a talk and hopefully a discussion for your own input too. I hope to meet members interested in my ideas to find out more for possible collaborations with me. I will also be doing drop in workshops with varying themes over the next 18 months. I look forward to meeting you!
Please note, some of the work I will be showing will be challenging images.
The Strongest Fingers in the World
Reachout member Jim Bell tells his own personal story of Recovery
“My name is Jim although I’ve been called by many other names, not always nice ones at times I must admit, but for the purpose of relating my story to you I’ll stick to the one my father gave me.
My life until I became unwell was quite ordinary I grew up the son of a hard working miner an honest
and respected man in the community. I was a schoolboy in the fifties and early sixties and did quite well. I left school in 1966 on a Friday and starting my first job two days later.
As a youth in the flower era I lived life to the full, as it was a very exciting time to grow up in. I eventually married in the early seventies and settled down to go on to have three children. Since I was a boy all I wanted to do was drive big trucks the bigger the better, this I did and over the years considered myself a professional and experienced driver. If it had wheels on it, I could drive it. I even managed to gain a locomotive license along the way. But pride commeth before a fall.
At 3am on Saturday the 14th May 1988 my life changed terribly and irreversibly in a split second. Coming back home from England on the A74 I was involved in a terrible fatal road smash in which one of the occupants of the other vehicle died, but to be honest, two people died that night, although I survived physically, Jim the confident professional died there too. Can you imagine standing in the middle of the road and watching the life drain out of another human being and know that it’s your fault this person, a young woman who had never done me any harm was breathing her last breath.
The police charged me at the scene, which is the normal course of action, but I was already dead inside and wanted to be punished even more than I could punish myself. My wife and family didn’t deserve to have someone as bad as me in their lives, as far as I was concerned my life was over but I wasn’t dead.
My life was just an existence for the next seven months until the court case came to trial, I shut myself away in my room cutting myself off from all who cared about me, I so wanted them to put me in jail and throw away the key. After looking at all the facts the judge said I had no case to answer and was entirely blameless, and for an hour I was elated and my spirits lifted. Many other truck drivers had come forward as witnesses, and outside the court they all said it wasn’t my fault. After a lot of coaxing I was persuaded to go and have a drink with them to let it sink in but my euphoria was short lived.
The trial had been held on the 21st December 1988 and as we sat down in the small pub the television screen filled with terrible pictures, you see an airplane had crashed down on the village of Lockerbie and hundreds of people were dead. At that instant together with the plane crash and what I’d just been through I plunged into a huge black hole somewhere inside my mind and for the next five years found it impossible, and didn’t have the will power to climb out of it. To this day I have very little memory of those terrible years which thinking of it now was probably a godsend.
Do you really know what it’s like to hate yourself? My father always said “you can take away everything from a man and he’ll survive but take away his pride and you’re left with nothing”. I struggled on for the next months trying to convince myself I would be okay; everyone else could see my grip on reality was slipping away. I didn’t wash or even comb my hair because that would mean looking in the bathroom mirror and as far as I was concerned that evil figure was looking back at me.
My wife took me to see a doctor or so I thought but it was a psychiatrist and the next day I was in a locked ward and they had taken all the curtains, blinds and mirrors out of the room in case I attempted suicide. On medication the next months were just a blur, which I have very little memory of but although my wife was quite severely disabled, she never missed a day in visiting me even though in total she had to use six buses and walk a mile on two walking sticks to do so.
After a few months they sent me home, not because I was well, but if I stayed there any longer I would become institutionalized. When my wife tried to take me out on her visits I would tremble and shake so bad it was impossible for me to leave the grounds. Their original diagnosis was posttraumatic stress syndrome but that was changed after a while to manic depression with suicidal tendencies. And for the next few years I would disappear into these black holes in my mind and sometimes believed I would never get back out again.
I wanted to work so I was sent to an industrial psychologist only to be informed that I would probably never work in my life again. Everything was in place to tip me over the edge after that and for the next few years I had to be watched closely and indeed there were a few suicide attempts. As I said I was dead but just not physically and it’s only now 15 years or so later I realized it was only my wife’s love for me and the hard work she and others did to keep me alive that I’m here now and for a long time I believed anything bad that happened to me was meant as a punishment because you see I was still alive.
So you see the next time you hear on the radio or read in the papers that there’s been an accident between a truck and some other vehicle, people died, but the truck driver escaped uninjured I’m here to show that that just isn’t the case because like me they will be hanging on by their finger tips.
In a way I defied the psychologists prediction in that I did recover, well recovery enough to lead a relatively normal life, so the question must be asked, was it because of the doctors or, in spite of the doctors you see I decided I’d had enough of the drugs and the group sessions so I stopped taking any of them. I don’t advocate this route for anyone else but for me it worked.
You see I looked around me and all the other patients, and none of either, the doctors or the patients talked of recovery, just treating and continued care for the foreseeable future.
Although still hanging on by my fingertips metaphorically speaking I was becoming stronger.
Along the way to my recovery there were many hurdles and I would still go into deep black moods but the difference now was I was letting other people help me and, I didn’t want to go down into that black hole again. Although over the past nine or ten years I’ve looked over the edge many times I’ve always managed to stop myself falling in. The down side of mental health illness is that they treat you but not your loved ones, and as I’ve found out, my illness has affected my family as much as me.
My son who is the youngest, although a man himself now, cannot remember his dad without mental illness and as a direct effect of my illness and seeing his dad acting strangely at times now suffers from anorexia. His two older sisters suffer from depression. This as I see it, are casualties of my illness also.
At present I work voluntary with SAMH as chair of the user involvement group, I also am a voluntary advocacy worker, and with my life experiences hopefully help other people to turn their lives around too.
When working with these groups and relating parts of my story to them the realization that I also had been ill and in some cases more so than them, hopefully assists their efforts on the road to recovery.
The moral of this story is this. You can and will in most cases recover; it all depends on how much you want too. You won’t be the same person you were before becoming unwell but, you can recover and you will be older and wiser for it and maybe just maybe you can also help someone else to do the same”.
Jim Bell
Reachout with Arts in Mind 