Art Ease CIC recently received new funding and will continue their work next year.
Southport-based non-profit organisation Art Ease was created to bring people in the community together through art to support their mental health and reduce isolation in Southport.
They hold sessions where people are given step by step guides to create decoration and art for the home, aiming to ensure creating the crafts is inclusive for everyone.
Trainee clinical psychologist Hannah Hanson has been on placement with Art Ease since September, attending the events and observing how the workshops are supporting people’s wellbeing.
She said: “They do lots of different workshops with lots of different groups of people and I am passionate about reducing social isolation, pulling groups together, and that really the cause of what Emmy does.”
The organisation was founded by nurse turned artist Emmy Porter and began holding sessions in February of this year.
They have now relocated their sessions to the new Southport community centre The Big Onion which opened its doors in late October.
The held their first monthly crafty café, a morning of making art with tea and coffee, which although Emmy was nervous leading up to the day, she believes it was a big success.
They recently received more funding from the Southport Recovery Fund so they can continue to support local’s wellbeing into the new year.
Emmy said the upcoming sessions for the New Year will include mindful arts and crafts workshops.
She said: “Its just a really accessible, supportive setting where people can just come together, make new friends and try something new.”
People from a variation of ages and backgrounds from Southport attend the events, one regular being Gale Stuart.
Gale has lived in the town for 35 years and felt quite isolated since COVID.
They said: “I am not a creative person, but I like to do things, this gets me out, I get to meet people. It’s given me a new mindset.”
Art Ease will be holding workshops every week in the New Year.
