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Inspired by George and Mary Watts’s passion for Art for All, the Big Issues Project reaches out to prisoners, young offenders, reformed drug users, the homeless, recovering alcoholics and people with mental illness, to offer personal transformation, the development of self-worth and new skills.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
Surrey is thought of as a wealthy commuter county but this identity hides areas of real deprivation with child poverty, low incomes, poor mental health and homelessness. The county also houses a relatively high number of prisoners, including two women’s prisons. High percentages of both male and female prisoners suffer from anxiety and depression and having a creative outlet has a huge impact on their mental health, confidence and social skills.
Solution
The Big Issues project will reach out to the community through practical art skills courses and activities tailored to suit the needs of different groups. The project provides participants with an opportunity to channel their creative energies and emotions in a positive way which increases confidence, self-esteem and social skills. The project offers beneficiaries an opportunity to develop new art and design skills, and workshops have also improved IT, communication, numeracy & literacy skills