Arts project helps residents rebuild social lives

A special art project is helping a group of people with disabilities feel confident about getting out and about again following Covid restrictions.

Residents from Sanctuary Supported Living’s Corner House in Mansfield, a CQC-registered care home which supports young people with learning disabilities and complex needs, are taking part in the Together Again arts project, run by local artist Clare Taylor.

As soon as the pandemic took hold in 2020, the residents went into complete lockdown and were shielding due to health issues. Their lives remained much the same for some time and they missed their regular social activities. Once restrictions lifted, many were frightened about re-entering the world post-Covid.

The idea came about for the project as residents asked for something fun and educational that would feel safe and help them re-adjust to social activities again.

The weekly sessions are supported by a grant from Sanctuary’s Community Investment Fund and are being held in a function room at local pub, The Rufford, who stepped in to offer the room for free when the planned venue closed down.

The group members have been exploring a range of mixed media processes from clay to ink. The art work produced during the sessions will form part of a forthcoming exhibition at Mansfield Museum in September.

Clare Taylor, from Mansfield-based Bus and Bird Arts, said, “I am delighted to be working with the residents at Corner House on such an important project and have very much missed bringing people together through art. The importance of creative activities for people’s health and wellbeing can’t be underestimated.”