Arty-Folks

Arty-Folks supports adults with mental health concerns to bridge the gap from being dependent on mental health services to leading a self-directed life in the community. We inspire people in Coventry and Warwickshire to achieve mental well-being through the Visual Arts and Peer Support. We offer a program of creative initiatives that promotes self-confidence, trust, and mutual support in a community of people who share an experience of mental health difficulties and who also share an interest in the visual arts. This includes Gateway Group every Wednesday 12.30-2.30 at the Artspace Studios, 16 Lower Holyhead Road, Coventry CV1 3AU. Participants learn new skills in bite-size projects that build their art skills as well as their social confidence. We offer you quality 'me'​-time and support people to explore a range of art techniques and materials such as painting with acrylics, inks, oils, drawing with pencil or charcoal, sculpture, ceramics, carvings, collage, etc. No bookings or referrals required. Beginners are warmly welcomed. signposting to opportunities in the community on our website www.arty-folks.co.uk with separate listings for city-centre activities and city-wide activities as well as a calendar of events that are attended by Arty-Folks. We provide information about current mainstream social and recreational activities in the community, and we support access therapeutic interventions and opportunities for personal development. We offer individual and person-centred support for progression to opportunities in the community that will enable our service users to reduce dependence on statutory staff. On completion of Gateway Group and depending on suitability people may move to Arty-Folks Progression Group and build employability skills through Peer Volunteering. Making Way Group supports people transitioning into volunteering and employment.