Stockport Arc’s MEGA Saturday Art Club to raise money for its mental health services.
The team at Stockport arts and health charity Arc has planned even more special activities than usual for their May Half Term family art club, including fun art and crafts, an art and toy raffle, face painting and a quiz.
They will be asking for a £5 donation from each attendee this month as part of their ‘Big Give’ campaign, an initiative which doubles a charity’s fundraising over a two week period. The monthly Saturday Art Clubs have been increasingly popular since the pandemic, with over 120 visitors each month looking to try new creative activities in the lovely Hat Works building in the town centre.
As well as running a cafe, workshops and exhibitions that are open to the public, Arc addresses critical mental health challenges through a transformative arts programme for children, young people and adults in Stockport, Oldham and Tameside. Its creative activities welcome, inspire and support some of the most vulnerable individuals to achieve remarkable changes in their lives; to connect with each other, build skills and confidence and make steps towards restoring good mental health.
Mental health services are facing unprecedented demand. In Stockport, serious mental illness has risen by 41% over the past 20 years. From 2016-2020 the number of people diagnosed with anxiety rose by 30%, depression by 63% and the UK suicide rate is now at a 25-year high.
Saturday Art Club Visitor
Last year Arc’s ‘Young People’s Arc’ campaign enabled it to support more than 50 children and young people at increased risk of mental ill-health including those with caring responsibilities, LGBTQ+ young people, neurodivergent young people and children whose families are experiencing a life limiting illness.
“I’ve made plenty of friends here and it’s upped my mental health a lot – I feel more confident and have felt listened to and validated. I will take away social skills and lifelong friendships.”
(young participant, Arc project with the Proud Trust.)
Arc’s 2024 campaign is raising money for all its Creative Wellbeing programmes. To provide safe, welcoming spaces, the right activities and skills to build hope for the future, for everyone it supports – adults and young people referred to us and patients on mental health wards.
The event will be held at Arc at Hat Works, Wellington Road, Stockport,
on Saturday, May 25, 2024 from 11:00-15:00.
You can find out more about Arc and the campaign on the website at https://arc-centre.org/donate-to-arc
