During a free 6 week course, participants are encouraged to learn and practice simple, accessible creative activities in a non-judgmental environment. Our aim is to develop mindful techniques that can help group members to take time out to ‘be in the moment’, whilst learning something new, working towards a sense of achievement and developing skills that can easily be replicated in their own time.
No creative experience is needed, we actively encourage people without any experience to give it a try. The activities are extremely accessible and easy to learn.
Aims of the course are for those attending are to:
•Find time away from thoughts or daily life
•Discover creative ways to find headspace and relax
•Use mindfulness to improve wellbeing
•Learn new skills that can be tried at home
•Meet new people and build confidence
•Learn to enjoy the process as much as the end result
•Embrace being non-judgemental about themselves
•Explore low level creativity
•Feel a sense of achievement
What we'll deliver:
- Encourage people to learn easy ways to find headspace with the intention of helping their personal wellbeing
- Deliver the course to around 50 local people
- Build a community around a course for mindfulness
- Increase awareness that creativity and mindfulness to help wellbeing and low level mental health
- Inspire creative techniques that are very low cost, accessible, eco friendly and easily achieved
Why it's a great idea:
Mindfulness is a technique you can learn to be fully present and engaged in the moment without judging anything. It can help you manage your thoughts, feelings and mental health. With practice, mindfulness helps people to become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and body sensations so that instead of being overwhelmed by them, they’re better able to manage them.
Studies show show that mindfulness-based approaches can significantly reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Steps to get it done:
- Deliver the course to a minimum of 50 local participants
- Timeout to be a recognised benefit across the county
- Deliver free creative workshops for the community
By encouraging and inspiring people to use items they may have at home instead of buying new equipment, we hope to prevent waste, increase recycling and make activities more financially accessible.
Timeout is a rolling course so participants can start their 6 weekly sessions at any point and meet new people along the way. Also as a follow up to the course we are creating 'timeout together' which brings people together as a community to enjoy creative activities with like minded people.
We work alongside our existing loneliness and isolation service which encourages people to feel happier and become more active and engaged in their communities. More information on Plus (People Like Us) can be found at www.onside-advocacy.org.uk/plus
