WHALE Arts: smARTCRAFT Report 2018

smART CRAFT Evaluation Report 2018

smART CRAFT is a visual arts class for adults with complex and additional support needs. The group meets weekly in WHALE's dedicated arts workshop and explores creativity and expression. The group is led by a qualified arts tutor and a support worker, both of whom are key to the group's learning and growth.

In 2018/2019 we provided spaces for 12 local people to attend, 11 of whom identify as having a learning disability. smART CRAFT aims to improve health and well-being of those with complex support needs by providing therapeutic art sessions, and reduce isolation by strengthening our community. smART CRAFT participants are referred by local agencies such as GPs and social workers based in the Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, as well as Deaf Action, LinkLiving and the Job Centre Plus.

Project Outcomes: smART CRAFT sessions will strengthen our community by reducing isolation.

Targets: • Run 43 regular sessions over the year led by a professional art tutor and support worker, connecting up to 16 isolated individuals with their community.

• Create opportunities for exhibiting work as a group (minimum 1exhibition) • Facilitating opportunities for the group to work with other arts and multidisciplinary groups at the WHALE Arts Centre (minimum 2 sessions or events) The group is very popular, and over 43 sessions in 2018 the group had a total of 221 participations by 12 regular attenders. Participants are often referred to the group through public sector partner organisations and the group currently has a waiting list. smART CRAFT exhibited work at Explorathon, a public arts and science celebration day at WHALE Arts with an audience of 130 people of all ages from across the city. Work also was showcased at the WHALE Arts AGM and received some very positive feedback from visitors for both exhibitions.

Working with other groups at WHALE Arts has involved smART CRAFT participants producing beautiful artwork on the garden bothy and seating areas in partnership with the Westburn Can gardening project. Participants from smART CRAFT have also worked with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Music and Visuals project and exhibition, creating artworks and soundscapes responding to Wester Hailes Other activities have included visiting the Travelling Gallery with the smARTies young people’s art group when the Gallery visited the WHALE Arts Centre.

smART CRAFT benefits people age 18+ living in Wester Hailes and South West Edinburgh who identify as having an additional or complex support need. Some members of the group are living in extreme poverty, and others tell us they are socially isolated. The Scottish Commission for Learning Disability evidence that the majority of adults with learning disabilities for whom deprivation data is known live in the 40% most deprived areas in Scotland. We know, from the SIMD, that the number of people in our community with a disability is more than twice the city average.

75% of smART CRAFT participants live locally in the EH11 and EH14 postcodes, with 25% travelling from surrounding South Edinburgh areas. 86% of the students participating in the project feel more connected to their local community, and 100% of participants find they are more able to participate in community events, through factors such as increased visibility, knowledge of events, and increased self- confidence. • • •

100% of participants feel less isolated as a result of attending the project.

71% of participants also reported a better understanding of the people and groups within their community.

100% reported feeling more positive about their local community.

Many carers stated that without Smart Craft the participants would be at home on their own with just their carer. Taking part in supported activity at WHALE Arts has led 57% participants and their carers to try new activities and programmes.

smART CRAFT will the improve health and well-being of people with complex and additional support needs through regular delivery of therapeutic arts sessions.

• Run 43 regular sessions over the year led by a professional art tutor and support worker, providing stability and guidance.

• Offer up t o 12 spaces for participants to take part in weekly art sessions • Establish a minimum of 1 new loc al referral partner The project has 12 regular participants who have attended 43 regular sessions. Participants reported high levels of engagement and beneficial outcomes from taking part in the project.

Carers also noted a positive impact on mood and positivity, with 100% of carers saying that participants are positive about their experiences in the class, and 100% have seen a positive change in mood and behaviour of participants.

The class also allows for participants to learn new skills, either social skills or practical art skills. Carers were asked to report on the effectiveness of the class in teaching new skills, which was found overall to be very positive.

Feedback from participants and carers: • 100% feel that the class has a positive impact on their well-being.

• 100% of carers said they saw improved skills in working with others • 100% reported that participants were more cheerful, positive and engaged both during and after sessions.

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66% percent of carers reported that learning new skills has resulted in an increase in confidence and creativity, and that participants were more open to trying new things as a result. • 100% of both carers and participants reported that they had learnt new skills, either social skills or artistic skills, such as design, focusing on task and other creative skills.

As well as learning new art skills the opportunity to express themselves creatively has improved participants communication levels, with support workers/carers reporting a better rapport with clients. smART CRAFT participants are referred by local agencies such as GPs and social workers based in the Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, as well as Deaf Action, Link Living and the Job Centre Plus who feel the group positively enhances the lives of participants. New referral agencies for the project include CHAI (Community Health and Advice Initiative) and Art in Healthcare.

smART CRAFT provides a safe and happy place for people to come together and make art, with support, time and opportunities to develop their creativity and confidence. We are delighted that we have funding from the Wester Hailes Community Trust January to June 2019 and are seeking future funding to sustain the programme.