Stroud Loneliness Project using art to help people heal from trauma

People who have experienced trauma and loneliness are exhibiting the art that helped them to "feel safe" and "heal".

The Loneliness Project exhibition is being held in Stroud's Five Valleys Shopping Centre by mental health support group The Independence Trust.

The exhibition aims to tackle the damaging effects of isolation through art, with a pop-up wellbeing support shop also available to visitors.

Exhibition lead Anni Dalton said the trust had helped her after trauma.

"They picked me up and gave me the stability and strength to take control, which led me to go to college and university where I gained a degree in fine art," she said.

Ms Dalton added: "I believe art can help to heal, inspire and enable the minds of the people that come to my workshops.

"It provides a safe environment for those who are suffering to express themselves and gives them a place they can look forward to being.

"Most come back every week, having felt the benefit of being creative in a non-pressured environment, to be positively but gently encouraged by myself and often by their peers in a group working together for each other, understanding each other."

Angela Butler said she had benefitted from taking part in Ms Dalton's art classes.

"The experience of being able to express my feelings through art, without having to actually say anything, was so helpful and therapeutic," she said.

"I love to share my pleasure in it (art) with others and want to encourage people to have the confidence to have a go.

"Even just cutting out shapes is a great achievement when you feel unwell, but it is still being creative and will feed the heart and the mind. It really does aid recovery," added Ms Butler.

The pop-up shop will be staffed by mental health and community wellbeing support workers, with additional help from agencies such as Citizens Advice.

The artists behind the artwork will also be welcoming visitors.

The Independence Trust's Loneliness Project also offers support through creative activities such as gardening, walking and creative writing.

Independence Trust district team leader Sue Tomlinson said many people found themselves "in a pandemic of loneliness and isolation" when they emerged from the coronavirus pandemic.

"To address this issue, we decided to organise an art exhibition showcasing the experiences of our clients who have felt isolated," she said.

The exhibition and pop-up support shop will run from 13-18 November.

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