Agenda item

Paul Reilly, Ceramics Co-ordinator, to give a short presentation on the activities provided by Fosse Arts and the benefit they have on the health and wellbeing of participants.

Members of the Heritage Culture and Leisure Scrutiny Commission have been invited to attend the meeting for this item.

Paul Reilly, Ceramics Co-ordinator and Pete Clayton, General Art gave a short presentation on the activities provided by Fosse Arts and the benefit they have on the health and wellbeing of participants.  A sample of comments from participants was circulated at the meeting for Members’ information.

It was noted that:-

a)         Participants in the activities attended sessions on a drop in-basis so that people did not feel pressurised into having to make a commitment to a course.

b)         The arts and crafts courses also provided a social network for participants.  This had particular benefits for vulnerable people and those who had health issues.  Some participants had been attending courses for over 20 years.  Feedback indicated that participants felt valued and enjoyed expressing their artistic talents.

c)         Staff at the Centre had built long term relationships with some participants with health issues and feedback showed that they were providing valued support and friendship to those suffering from loneliness, anxiety and depression etc.

d)         A number of case histories showing how the Arts Centre had helped people were shown to Members.

Following questions from Members it was noted that:-

a)         The Centre operated an ‘open door’ access policy and had mainly relied on ‘word of mouth’ recommendations.  It’s benefits to the health and wellbeing of people attending classes was a relatively recent realisation.  Leaflets had previously been left in local doctor’s surgeries to publicise the Centre’s activities.

b)         The Centre could provide a breakdown of the 8,000 attendees in 2014/15 giving the numbers attending with a disability.

Kerry Gray, Head of Adult Skills and Learning Service, stated that the Centre was originally funded by Arts and Museums and then by Community Services but had transferred to Adult Skills and Learning as part of the transforming neighbourhoods initiative.  The Centre is now funded by a combination of a core budget and about 30% from the Adult Skills and Learning budget.  Some of the mental health work undertaken by the Centre received small grants and referrals were received from a wide network of mental health professionals.  Initiatives to encourage enrolment and referral to engage in Adult Learning would be welcomed and the service is always open to suggestions about new courses to meet the needs of specific groups.

Some Members had visited the Centre before and highlighted the therapeutic value of the Centre’s activities to health and wellbeing.  It was felt that the Centre could provide benefits to address issues of isolation, particularly in relation to Adult Social Care.  There were also benefits to the promotion of Public Health initiatives and the possibility of exploring the use of the Centre and other similar organisations as part of this work should be explored.  Activities such as these should also be borne in mind when discussing health messaging.

The Healthwatch representative suggested that the Centre should make contact with Healthwatch as they could help to promote the Centre’s activities in relation to improving a person’s health and wellbeing.

The Chair thanked Paul Reilly and Pete Clayton for their presentation.