In collaboration with a local design team, Rainy Day Trust (charity) will be providing creative workshops & artistic interventions to the local community - to share & increase creative and technical skills, reduce the risk of isolation (particularly for vulnerable citizens), inspire the local community and provide a safe, welcoming environment for the benefit of the community overall. Furniture up-cycling techniques and materials will be provided for community members to practise their skills. Participants can either bring & take away their own creative items on completion, with a view to enhance their own homes. Alternatively, there may be an opportunity for completed items to be exhibited in a final display/exhibition and auctioned/sold to raise further funds for the charity to continue helping the local community in various ways. There will also be artistic interventions in public spaces for local community members to be involved in collaborative artworks.

What we'll deliver:

• A minimum of 50 individuals will be involved in creative workshops provided
• In collaboration with the professional design services provided voluntarily by a local, established design company
• Furniture upcycling skills shared and guidance for specific techniques, with materials and equipment provided
• Collaborative, guided artistic interventions in public spaces
• Final display/exhibition of creative work produced - digital &/or physical sharing

Why it's a great idea:

Reduce the risk of social isolation, particularly for vulnerable and disengaged members of the community. Provide access to those otherwise not engaged or within easy access of the Arts Third party, professional Mental Health services (ie; Telephone counselling) for eligible participants A sense of pride, achievement, improved mental health/emotional wellbeing and overall positive impact on the local community for the participants involved as well as the local area

Steps to get it done:

• At least two sharing celebratory events are planned
• At least 50 individual pieces of works are anticipated by participants
• A minimum of one collaborative piece by local community members is aimed for in a public setting, permissions allowing

There’s scope for further debt/legal/housing advice for eligible participants and signposting to other services we may be able to provide assistance or (at the very least) redirection for, due to our in-house knowledge and experience.