Hello lovely people of steemit!... As well as been an artist, myself and a good friend run an art group called 'Inspire'. The aim of the group is to promote mental health awareness and encourage art and creativity as a way to de-stress. It also gives people a chance to sit and chat with others going through similar circumstances.

The group decided they wanted to engage with a wider audience so we got our thinking caps on and came up with a Community blanket. We wanted to involve as many people as possible.

https://s5.postimg.io/hin8a9807/IMG_20160909_114528.jpg

Me, trying to look casual and warming my bottom on the cosy blanket.

https://s5.postimg.io/k18xaxtqf/IMG_20160902_143303.jpg

The idea of the blanket is to symbolise 'Putting the pieces of your life back together, growing stronger one step at a time.' We also wanted to represent strength in community and working together.

So far we have around two hundred knitted and crocheted squares all donated by groups and individuals from the Wakefield district, including contributions from Bethany House Healing Centre and members of The Art House. We will be showing this stage of the blanket during the Wakefield Art Walk at the end of this month. We still have lots of neatening and stitching together to do! We plan to continue adding knitted and crocheted squares until Easter 2017 when we will have one huge square. The blanket will then evolve into a magical giant Easter bunny...It's amazing what you can make with a square and some crafty knitters!

https://s5.postimg.io/vb1n5vyrr/IMG_20160909_121556.jpg

Running a group can be challenging and tiring at times. Funding can be difficult to find and we are still unpaid, relying on basic expenses. Mental Health Services have a tendency to rely heavily on unpaid peer workers, especially as there are so many budget cuts to services now.

It can also be extremely rewarding though! Especially when we pull together to achieve a project goal. Members feel they have a safe place to go on a regular basis and can learn new skills and enjoy socialising. Something that can be hard to do for people who have become isolated and withdrawn.

We have a Facebook page, mostly run by my good friend and work collegue Diana ( Fb brings me out in a rash ;))

https://www.facebook.com/groups/493429474133813/

http://www.bethanytlc.org.uk/

http://www.the-arthouse.org.uk/

If you like this project please upvote... and keep creating!

J xx