At the beginning of this year we awarded funding to Shift Together. They are a community interest company based in Treorchy, Cardiff. They are dedicated to providing free accessible mental health support groups within RCT and South Wales. They focus on connecting communities, building resilience and offer employment and volunteering opportunities to help enrich lives.
Our funding was used for arts and craft materials for workshops. These workshops were a mix of art workshops and crafting workshops. The craft workshops brought people together in the morning to create seasonal items, including our Easter workshop where 25 participants made Easter wreaths adorned with decorative items. The groups allowed people to have fun, build new connections, and learn new skills together.
The feedback provided to us reported how lovely it was to see everyone enjoying themselves and having time away from their busy lives. The noise of chatter filling the room during the workshops was heartwarming!
The art groups were held in the evening, providing an opportunity for people to join in under the guidance of a local artist, learning about the connection between art and wellbeing. It was great to see the confidence grow in people.
New connections were made and participants came away with greater confidence and new skills. There was a noticeable improvement in the wellbeing of the group, and they are all keen to take part in future sessions.