Ah, the magic of winter at Redcatch Community Garden! What a couple of months it has been. Our art therapy and wellbeing groups have certainly kept many warm in the community this winter.
Our OVO-funded art therapy groups working with local primary have been thriving and we warmly welcomed a new school in January. These sessions give children the opportunity to get their creative juices flowing out of the more structured school setting, allowing them to express themselves in new and exciting ways. If your school would like to get involved in the magic, let's chat – please contact Kaya at kaya@redcatchcg.com.
We also have spaces with our wonderful art therapists for one-to-one sessions. Art therapy can help you with:
expressing and understanding how you feel
emotional support
relationships
self‐confidence
processing current and past experiences
finding healthy ways of coping
relaxing and taking time for yourself
If you're curious, get in touch with Kaya via email at kaya@redcatchcg.com or by text at 07858 630 507.
And for those who want to experience the transformative power of art in a group setting, our popular adult art & wellbeing group runs every Tuesday morning from 9:30-11:30am. Drop-ins and new faces always welcome! Would you like to join? Talk to Jenny at jenny@redcatchcg.com. For those living with dementia and their carers, we have a weekly art therapy gathering: these sessions run on Thursdays from 1-3pm. Please reach out to Kaya again for more details!
Wider Therapeutic Support
Kaya and our new at therapy student, Jess, are now on-hand with support for our weekly free-of-charge Community Lunch on Tuesdays 12-1:30pm. Kaya also oversees our After-School Club, free and open to all, on Tuesdays 3:15-4:45pm.
Over the holidays, our YHH-funded holiday club provided children entitled to Pupil Premium with a fun-packed couple of days including a graffiti workshop run by Graft, a theatre workshop by Theatre in the Garden, craft activities and a delicious lunch. This SEND-friendly holiday club was supported by the therapy team for a holistic approach.
Our monthly ADHD Women's Circle has continued to be well attended. Each month explores a new ADHD-related theme, with discussion, a themed meditation and art-making. December's discussion was around risk-taking, January's on refection and February's will be around perfectionism and starting a conversation with our inner critic. This special session includes a small firepit to help alchemise our thoughts and feelings! Sounds like your thing? Book now via TryBooking.
We are also very excited to be now working in partnership with Second Step, combining art therapy with woodworking.
Not only are we creating art; we're exploring what makes a space safe for mental health here at the Garden. The University of Bristol is partnering with us on a research journey, and we invite you to be a part of it. Click here for more info on how to take part!