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Arts and Minds Autumn Event, 18 October 2007

In Association with Michaelhouse

This was Arts and Minds second event which, like its launch event, was attended by over 80 people including service users, carers, artists and colleagues from the statutory, voluntary and academic agencies working with health, social care and the arts.

Chairman Richard Taylor welcomed those present and introduced the evening by setting out the progress made by Arts and Minds since its launch event in Spring 2007. Achievements included the successful completion of a number of highly valued projects across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and considerable progress in planning many other projects. Richard paid tribute to the wide range of partner organisations and friends whose involvement and support had been invaluable, and those who had provided financial support.

Richard then introduced Peter Hilken, Chairman of Michaelhouse Friends, who had generously provided the venue for the event and with whom Arts and Minds was hoping to launch a choir for service users, carers, friends and volunteers. Peter provided a brief background to Michaelhouse, described the Friends‘ interest in mental health and their commitment to the choir.

Richard then welcomed Prof David Morris, Director of the National Mental Health Programme for Social Inclusion, who described its history, policy context, high level political support and achievements and plans. David stressed the linked nature of the issues for excluded people often including unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, bad health, family breakdown and isolation, all leading to what he described as a ‘fast moving, complex, vicious cycle’. He affirmed the value of participation in the arts in helping people deal with these issues, demonstrated in the recently published research by Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Central Lancashire. He stressed the importance of cross-government department/cross-agency working, service user engagement, community involvement and local partnerships in linking policy and practice and establishing effective responses. David’s presentation is available to download, see:

In thanking David, Richard reflected that many of the key features emphasised in David’s presentation were reflected in local initiatives and Arts and Minds own agenda, philosophy and practice.

The next session was an assessment by staff nurse Hazel Smith of The Deighton Intermediate Care Service, of the impact of the Millennium Arts Project established under the auspices of the Friends of Fulbourn Hospital and the Community. Hazel was unfortunately unable to be present and her report was therefore read by Christina Rowland-Jones, Chair of the Friends of Fulbourn Hospital and the Community, architect of their Millennium Arts Project and trustee of Arts and Minds. Hazel’s presentation described some of the work undertaken as part of the Millennium Arts Project and provided a powerful assessment of the benefits of participation in the arts for both service users and their family carers. A full transcript of Hazel’s presentation is available to download, see:

The final session was a presentation by Andy O’Hanlon, Arts Development Officer for South Cambridgeshire District Council who described the arrangements in southern Cambridgeshire, the achievements reflected in the many activities that were being undertaken and the challenges currently being faced as a result of local authority funding pressures. Like David, Andy stressed the importance of local networks and partnership working to provide the support and resilience required of all stakeholders to avoid feelings of isolation and pressure, and the need to provide evidence of the value of local investment if funders are to sustain their commitment.

In the discussion that followed there was further reflection about local work recognised in national reports, vigorous partnerships between local health, social care and arts organisations and the steps being taken to strengthen the evidence base. There was also discussion about the importance of valuing local artists and their contribution and ensuring they are properly rewarded

Richard closed the evening by thanking all present and the meeting was followed by informal discussion.

November 2007