One of ten projects to receive funding via our community-led Dragons’ Den, Natural Theatre Company explain why their work is important and what they did with the grant:
We were approached last year by the Social Prescriber at Hope House Surgery in Radstock to provide a series of free creative wellbeing workshops for adults in the Radstock and Westfield area struggling with their mental health. These were to be for very small groups of referred participants in a very relaxed and safe environment. The initial approach from Hope House said:‘Local social prescribers and care coordinators have noted there is a lack of free creative groups or opportunities for patients to improve their own wellbeing. There seem to be a good range of opportunities for residents to be active but limited options to express and explore their creativity. Local mental health services are under immense pressure, many of them have waiting times of four months or more, meaning there are limited options for people to engage at a time when they feel able (mind-set window is key to accessing support and feeling well). One of the main barriers for people in the Somer Valley area is transport and cost, it is crucial that there are easily accessible local and free opportunities for creative expression. There is a lack of opportunity to socialise in the evening especially for men, this group would be an important alternative to the pub or sport. As Social prescribers and Care Coordinators we see that evening loneliness and boredom can lead to poor lifestyle choices.’
We were successful in funding a series of sessions through the Big Local Dragon’s Den event, where the local community could see the benefit of this provision and voted for it, and subsidised the rest from other Natural Theatre budgets. We called them Natural Steps and the participants found them incredibly rewarding. As with all work associated with Mental Health and Wellbeing it is important to provide support over the long term and the group grows slowly as the positive feedback spreads to other possible participants.
We have now been asked by the participants and the Social Prescribers to continue this important work for the area by running another series of 5 sessions leading up to Christmas. This project is designed to provide a creative opportunity for the participants that will increase their confidence and resilience to enable them to feel confident enough to participate in other projects and society as a whole, thereby benefiting them as individuals as well as the community. This work also helps the resilience of the Natural Theatre Company by increasing its profile locally and providing regular work for its professional facilitators.
The following is feedback from participants on the first course:
1) Why did you decide to come along to the Natural Steps sessions?’ I wanted to try the sessions as I wanted to find a more practical, but creative solution to my depression and social isolation; I didn’t want to take anti-depressants. Fortunately, I already knew of the Natural Theatre company through various events I had attended over the last 20+ years, and through a recommendation by my Social Prescriber at the Hope House Surgery.’
‘I got a call from Hope house offering me a spot and I decided to come and see what it was all about.’
2) Was the time of the sessions a good time for you? ‘My sessions were at 6.30pm on a Friday evening, which gave me something to look forwards to at the end of the week. Most local therapy sessions are held during working hours and do not suit my lifestyle.’
3) What did you enjoy the most about the sessions? ‘Freedom to be anything and anyone I wanted to be, without judgement. The sessions could be as much or as little as you wanted, with a mix of yoga, breathing, drawing, acting, theatre games and dressing up. Fortunately for me, Lizzie, my session tutor had a wonderfully creative mind and wicked sense of humour and we ended up crying with laughter on more than one occasion. Laughter truly is the best medicine!’
‘I enjoyed my sessions, I felt very welcome.’
4) Was there anything you did not enjoy or thought could have been better? ‘I loved all of it!’
5) How did the sessions benefit you? ‘I didn’t realise how dis-engaged my body and mind had become during working week, the yoga parts of the sessions gave me time to slow down and reconnect with my creative, artistic side that has been AWOL for some time. I found a little part of me that somehow got lost since I studied performing arts 30 years ago. ‘
6) Would you be interested in attending any future natural Steps sessions? ‘Absolutely!’
7) Is there anything specific that you would like to do at any future natural Steps sessions? ‘More of the same please!’
Lastly, do feel free to make any further comments here:
‘I really feel that there should be more support for creative arts programs such as the Natural Steps within the NHS as a form of health treatment. Not everyone wants to take anti-depressants, and being signed off doesn’t always help, especially if, like me, you have suffered with social isolation.’
‘I wanted a form of support/ treatment, that was more diverse and unique, that suited my personality and creative side. This program had it all.’
‘Natural Steps offers a diverse mix of yoga, breathing exercises, drawing, writing, acting and whatever else you want try at the time, there is no pressure or judgement and within that space, you can be a little or as much as you want to be. And laughter, I haven’t bellyached with laughter like that, in a very long time. It gave me a better sense of wellbeing than any prescription medication and I found myself looking forwards, more and more, to each session as time went on.’
The Social prescriber said: ‘The Big Local Room is a large, open, airy, safe space which is easily accessible in the centre of Radstock. Providing opportunities for people to come together in small groups and explore new creative wellbeing activities.
Natural Steps provides opportunities to build confidence and decrease isolation while making new connections. In a time of mutual understanding and empathy for each other without judgement. This in turn will support individuals who may be suffering with their mental health or just looking to explore new beginnings.’