JamesWard's blog

One of our former research volunteers sent a heart-warming and inspiring message. Check their journey out on our project webpage - The Learning Curve.

We have just started another course this week, a confidence course with our tutor Angie and we have another which will start next Thursday (29/06/17), Creative Crafting. In early July we have our final course, Circus Skills!!

We've just uploaded two new volunteer case studies to our project page - The Learning Curve. Do check out the journeys of Jan and Sue who both did courses as research volunteers and then went on to volunteer on both the MHP project and other Learning Curve courses.

I was introduced to The Learning Curve through Campbell Page in Trowbridge. I was on the Work Programme. James gave us an introduction to the Mental Wellbeing Project and I signed up to be a research volunteer. After the initial assessment, I was eligible for the 5 week Creative Crafting course at the Melksham office.

Our confidence and self-esteem course has finished today in Calne. However, this is just the beginning for this group! Even by the mid-way point of the course, volunteers were supporting each other outside of the course by meeting up and texting/phoning.

What a few weeks for our volunteers on the project. First we had a volunteer who had completed a Creative Crafting course and who now is supporting other volunteers on the subsequent Creative Crafting course. Her supportive and gentle nature has really encouraged a male volunteer to engage with the crafting.

Article in The Guardian today about the campaign Heads Together:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/29/royals-launch-mental-health-campaign-videos-get-britons-talking

The link to the Heads Together website: https://www.headstogether.org.uk/ They have some nice short videos with people discussing their experiences of mental health.

Short blog today......

Came across the Frazzled Cafe project today while surfing. It's a project aimed at getting people talking about mental wellbeing with the strapline 'It's OK, to not be OK'. They are inspired by their patron, Ruby Wax. https://www.frazzledcafe.org/about/

The project is supported by Marks & Spencers. Currently, 'Frazzled Cafes' can be found at the following Marks & Spencers stores:

We are coming to the end of our first two Creative Crafts courses and they have proved a great success. Our learners have got involved with a variety of creative activities including: decoupage, glass painting, clay work and digital photography. We've had a nice mix of learners on the course. Both self-professed creative types and those who consider themselves without a single creative bone in their body.

We have uploaded a new case study to The Learning Curve (Wiltshire) project page. Please do check it out. Allan completed a confidence and self-esteem course with us in November and December 2016. Subsequently, Allan has joined the MHP project as a volunteer. As part of his volunteering Allan has completed a coiuple of one day employability courses, a two day introduction to trainer skills course and All an has taken the opportunity to volunteer to support the tutor on one of our Jamie Oliver home cooking courses.

Yesterday the 1st December, we held our latest 'Keep in Touch' event. As usual this is a lovely opportunity for research volunteers to come along to have coffee and cake, have a chat with fellow volunteers and tutors and to participate in a short taster session.

This month we acted on feedback and arranged a Xmas Crafting taster session. Bev is our creative and crafting tutor. Bev has also been in limelight recently on TV and radio for her famous hamsters! Bev and our volunteers created some festive greetings cards and much merriment was had by all.