Chilli Seed - Development stage

ChilliStudios Creativity – improving Mental Health Chilli Studios The Blackfriars Centre Newbridge Street NE1 2TQ 0191 209 4058 web: chillistudios.co.uk email: info@chillistudios.co.uk

/ChilliStudios @ChilliStudios @ChilliStudios

Brochure designed by Craig Thompson, a member volunteer

SEEING THE WHOLE PICTURE...

“I think [Chilli Studios] is an incredibly important resource for people…coming to terms with the real deficits imposed on them by their mental health problems. Its importance is even greater today as the health budget is shrinking and…in my opinion it provides a unique range of support…and brings in an important but often overlooked part in recovery” Dr Sankalpa Basu (Consultant Psychiatrist, NTW NHS Foundation Trust)

“Chilli Studios has progressed from being an idea, a pipe-dream if you like, to a successful, popular and now essential service for the people of Newcastle and Gateshead.

It was evident from the start that we were on to something special, practising a sort of alchemy that turned the prosaic into the life-enhancing, going far above and beyond the notion of a mere studio, to something living and vibrant

The socio-economic climate, austerity and welfare reform in mental health do not engender much stability in the lives of service users, and it could be argued, impede notions of recovery or progression. This backdrop makes Chilli Studios all the more vital and special, bringing enjoyment to users’ lives, a place to be and belong and an environment in which to develop and flourish.”

Alisdair Cameron (Chairman, Chilli Studios)

AB O U T U S Chilli Studios is a registered charity, under our original title of Newcastle and Gateshead Art Studio (NAGAS). We provide support to those who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing a wide range of diagnosed mental health problems, or social exclusion within their communities.

We assist members in developing skills in a wide range of creative based activities, these include: Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Photography, Digital Media, Printmaking, Glasswork, Textiles, Creative Writing, General Arts and Crafts as well Music. Members are given the freedom to work independently in the studio or join any of our structured workshops which are delivered weekly.

Referrals come from a wide range of areas including Social Workers, Carers, Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Doctors and Support Workers. Each member is required to complete a form which gives staff the essential information required to facilitate a safe and well informed working space. This information is stored on a secure database and is updated regularly.

Additional activities and events which are facilitated

by NAGAS include: Regular exhibitions in local galleries, culturally relevant field trips, information sharing sessions, quarterly newsletters and monthly members meetings which greatly influences the direction of our work.

Since our humble beginnings in 2006 our membership has grown to excess of 500 individuals with 189 recorded as active over last year.

We are based in the Ouseburn area of Newcastle and offer numerous artistic spaces (floor space 240m²)

All the staff team have an extensive experience of working within, or personal experience of the mental health sector. To further support our offer we also currently have 6 sessional artists, many volunteers and 2 doctoral researchers engaged.

Our board currently consists of 8 trustees with very strong representation from professionals working in key areas; within Senior Management, Service User Involvement, Influencing Mental Health Policy and Best Practice, Legal Practice, Personnel Management, Arts Development and Education.

B I G L OTTE RY

Along with this new programme we have a new name and logo.

Thanks to the brilliant support from The Big Lottery, Chilli Studios has now started a three year program running until April 2018 entitled ‘Create to Change’.

Our new and exciting program of activity was designed following the in-depth evaluation from Victoria Armstrong, doctoral researcher at Durham University which clearly identified the areas we will now seek to develop.

Furthermore it endorsed our existing Engagement, Participation and Development outcome model whilst assisting us in identifying the now final Achievement outcome.

The new Create to Change programme will be:

› Innovative and inspiring › Engage those identified most in need not yet fully engaged › Provide a safe and friendly space with structured buddying system. › Offer an even broader range of creative disciplines › Further nurture skills and support personal progression › Promote new sustainable projects › Seek new positive partnerships › Facilitate real achievements based on individual goal setting

WHY RE -B R AN D ?

Chilli Studios has decided to take the bold step of re-branding with the start of ‘Create to Change’. As you will see we have a focus around making real achievements happen and making positive changes that are innovative and inspiring. Therefore we felt a change was right, and we hope we have struck a balance; retaining our positive identity whilst being a title that can be transferable into exciting enterprise.

EPDA MODEL We provide a clear pathway of recovery for those suffering the effects of, or at risk of experiencing deterioration in their mental health. Central to all our work is a 4 step process

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4

ACHIEVEMENT MEASURING PROGRESSION AND CELEBRATING SUCCESS

DEVELOPMENT REALIZING AND PROGRESSING THE POTENTIAL FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THE ORGANISATION.

1

ENGAGEMENT

ENGAGING NEW REFERRALS AS WELL AS OUTWARD FACING ENGAGEMENT WITH WIDER COMMUNITY. Achievement: A thing done successfully with effort, skill, or courage despite obstacles.

2

PARTICIPATION

MAKING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CREATIVE PRACTICE CAN HAPPEN.

Chilli Studios believes in creating an environment where positive change can happen. These achievements may appear minor in some cases and grand in others, however we acknowledge all are equally impressive, when put in perspective of the person. With these Achievements in mind we have identified an opportunity for developing a mutually supportive model for new business ventures. This proposed model will take the form of a new enterprise called ‘Chilli Seed’

Chilli Seed Model

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The model is still in its infancy and we would like to take this opportunity to invite others with the expertise, knowledge and capacity to support Chilli Studios make the dream a reality.

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Benefit trap Ensuring members are volunteering within the accepted parameters of the benefit agencies until ready to take appropriate steps to self-employment status.

Capital investment - Assistance will be given in sourcing funding from grant bodies (for example Arts Council), additionally any generated income from the volunteer will go into Chilli seed as ring-fenced under the volunteers name. This ‘trust fund’ can be reinvested in material and equipment for the venture at any time by volunteer.

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M ODEL Key issues addressed Confidence and Motivation - These will have been nurtured through earlier described EPDA model.

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With support we want to make our members ideas grow and become real sustainable ventures. In the following model we have planned a way of supporting our members into viable enterprises. Initially these ventures will remain under the wing of Chilli Seed until ready to register themselves.

Along their journey towards reaching a sustainable and meaningful enterprise we have considered ways to support the person and enterprise.

Managing external and internal expectation, as well as the threat of impending benefit sanctions. These pose real threats to mental health deterioration and current options do not seem to fit the needs of our membership.

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CHILLI IDEAS As you can see, the Chilli Bees are hard at work developing their creative ideas into real-life enterprises in order to further engage with the wider community and to generate income for Chilli Studios.

Chilli Bizaar is a small retail unit which we will be using as a gallery space to showcase service-user artwork. We are also looking into providing hollistic therapies and community outreach in this space.

Of course, at the heart of all of our ideas is the service-user, where we strive together to position their needs and wishes centrally within the development of future opportunities

“Around the world mental health research has simply not been a priority. In the UK, this is epitomised by two figures: 5.5% and 1/3 of a penny.

5.5% - The percentage

1/3 of a penny - The

of UK research funding

amount given by the

dedicated to mental

public to mental health

health.

research for every pound

23% of the UK population are affected by mental health problems at some

spent by the Government, compared to £2.75 for cancer.

point each year and the

In contrast to the other

economic and social cost

major health conditions,

of mental health in England

public funding of mental

is £105 billion – yet only

health research is

5.5% of UK research is

virtually non-existent.

dedicated to the area.

For every £1 the government spends on cancer research, the general public invests £2.75. For heart and

So why invest in mental health prevention?

LET ’S LOOK AT SOM E FACTS “Since 2010 the mental health budget has fallen 8.25%.

Community teams have seen 4% cut, while referral rates are up 20%.”

“4% of total health care budget is spent on all forms of prevention; mental health prevention receives 0.16% of total budget.”

(Mind, 2015)

(Royal college of Psychiatrists, 2015)

In 2013 the average cost of one ‘day case in-patients’ was £693 (DOH, November 2013) Chilli Studios provides 7hrs provision for £22 Chilli Studios Funding Distribution (2013-14) Charitable grants (£125,000)

circulatory problems it's

Members own contributions (£10,984)

£1.35. For mental health

Local Authority grant aid (£1,018)

research the figure is 0.3p,

External Donation (£940)

that’s a 1/3 of a penny.”

Sales of artwork (£188) Bank interest (£41)

(2015 MQ: Transforming Mental Health)

Health Authority grant aid (£0)

WAYS IN W H ICH TO SUP P ORT CH IL L I STUD IOS There are many ways to support the work that we do, the first step is to become a Friend of Chilli Studio, this lets us know you wish to be kept updated with electronic mail (quarterly) about our exhibitions, events etc. Also it allows you to arrange a suitable time to pop in for a chat and look round.

Once becoming a Friend of Chilli Studios you may wish to support our work by: • Offering advice • Offering support in kind • Sharing information, opportunities, networks • Providing free or reduced rates for materials and or equipment • Promoting our work • Utilizing our schemes like ‘art for hire’ • Working in partnership with Chilli Studios and Chilli Seed ventures • Becoming involved by requesting a seat on our board • Offering financial support

As a Friend of Chilli Studios we wish to offer back through our service: • Promote your generous support to the level you request internally and externally • Share our good news stories with you and your organisation • Offer workshops to individuals and groups in a vast range of creative activities • Provide a range of ‘art for hire’ as well as art gifts to say thank you • Make available the opportunity for having bespoke commissioned art work

Some positive closing words from the Big Lottery Fund...

“Visiting the Newcastle and Gateshead Arts Studios (NAGAS) was hugely inspirational in terms of how our grants impact communities’ lives in a positive way. Through using art as a platform this organisation has been able to reach out to people experiencing mental health problems” “NAGAS has developed strong links with other organisations and demonstrates the ethos of working in partnership with other groups to provide the best possible service to assist clients to develop coping mechanisms and a range of artistic skills.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in their lino printing session and talking with the group.”

“Having the opportunity to see this project in action has been so refreshing, in terms of seeing the difference our funding makes to those most in need. I gained first hand experience of how this project has had a positive impact on service users’ lives” Corporate Assistants (BIG Lottery Fund, 2015)