Our ICB-funded This Is Us project worked with grassroots and community organisations, encouraging people to express their feelings about mental health, mental health services, how they support themselves and each other and what role the voluntary sector plays - all through the medium of art.

The project was a great success - here's a little bit about the groups Karly, our art therapist worked with:

Sheffield Voices, a self-advocacy group made up primarily of adults with a learning disability and autistic adults. 

Israac - a Sheffield-based charity which offers an inclusive and warm welcome to the Somali community and embracing all communities in the local area.

Reach Up Youth Sisterhood - a charity that aims to increase community cohesion within the local area, delivering educational and recreational activities, with the aim of supporting local young people to reach their full potential.

Chilypep - a young people's empowerment project, dedicated to raising the voices of young people and giving them the confidence, influence and platform to shape their world and stay connected.

Parson Cross Forum older people's group - helping to develop community cohesion through education, activities and assistance for all.

Zest - engaging with the local community to ensure they have a voice, to promote cohesion and to develop an inclusive service offer for children, young people & families.

Family Voice - supporting families in the Sharrow, Lowfield and Nether Edge areas. Empowering and listening, providing information and advice, increasing good health and promoting a happy and safe family life.

The exhibition was launched on 17th May at the Central Library and we had over 100 attendees, many of whom were participants from the groups (or, to put it another way - the artists themselves!). Group members used a wide variety of mediums including painting, crochet, screen printing, mosaic and embroidery.

Well done to Karly and everyone who participated - don't forget you can drop into the library for the next month, to see the exhibition for yourself.