Mural created during our Art Sessions on Tuesdays for the new extension at The Helm.

 

 

 

Recently we have been given the opportunity to expand the Helm's premises which means now that in addition to the already existing centre, we  have a further couple of session rooms, a sewing room where textiles will be made towards craft fairs and an open seating and meeting area. This has caused quite a lot of excitement  at The Helm and everyone has been very keen to get involved in the decorating of the new extension.

 

 

 

We had wanted to create a calming mural of a natural scene so we decided on The Olive Trees By Van Gogh. The image was divided into 12 sections and during our Art For Relaxation we spent a few sessions fine tuning the paintings

 

 

   



By the end of the first session the canvases looked like this
 and you can start to see the image take shape

 

 



   

The Final Result!!



 

The piece of artwork in the sitting area.
 The new big room in the extension.

Music Sessions running on Mondays

During the recent events towards the end of last year, several people accessing The Helm were also attending a series of  workshops run through The Dukes.
These were music classes specifically for people suffering from mental health problems. 

We contributed to this event by working in partnership with other local projects and supporting service users who performed, as the classes culminated in a Concert to raise awareness for World Mental Health Week.  An Infamous local musician, Owen Saunders whom we’d hired to perform at the opening night of our Mental Health Art Exhibition running at the same time in late September is now volunteering kindly at The Helm, running music workshops with the same people who were involved at the concert and a couple of others.

       There is a small group of around 4/5 people who meet weekly to play together in the group and we have noticed that the routine of this activity has contributed to a focus and productivity in those involved.

Sessions incorporating Volunteering and Skill building Opportunities

Hanging heart decorations made by Dawn Williams

•Baking

•Art for Relaxation with support from our Artist in Residence

•Creative Writing

•Confidence and Motivational Skills                     

•Relaxation and Meditation

•Photography and Walking Session

•Social Enterprise at The Helm Allotment

•Fitness and Wellbeing Group

•Music Group run by a Volunteer

•Poetry Writing

•Volunteering in the Café / Cooking

Helping with daily tasks around the centre

•Weekly facilitation of The Helm Service User Meeting

•Contribution towards Creative Support’s Magazine/ Newsletter

•Working towards Helm Events ie: Craft Fairs,  Exhibitions & Promotional Events

•Feeling of mutual responsibility and pride over the service

•Flexibility tailored towards individual need and as a whole

•Assistance with communicating with other Services (telephone/ meetings)

•Esucceed  Online Computer Course, IT Support (as and when)

•Financial Budgeting Support

•Form Filling Skills                                         

•Peer Support towards newcomers

•Showing visitors around

•Social Enterprise

•Promotional Work/ Raising Awareness

New Venture Community Allotment in Fairfield

Before any tidying

Once the land had been turned over potatoes and other veg
was planted to be harvested later on in the year!

    The community allotment is now up and running based at Fairfield, just around the corner from us. There is a lot of tidying up to do so each Tuesday afternoon, anyone willing to join us at the allotment came come with wellies or boots, and sun hat if we’re lucky enough with the weather, and help us tidy, plant and turn over the plots. We need to water the vegetables regularly and weed out every few weeks.

 

 

Steven and David working hard

Once the vegetables and fruit have grown and can be picked, we intend to bring them back to the centre to be used in the café.

So far we have done two sessions in the allotment! It has been dug over in rows for potatoes and vegetables

Photography on Lancaster Market Final Session

Red Onions by Ian Lyon

Mirrored Staircase by Ian Lyon

Colourful Watch Straps by Ian Lyon

Police and Theives by Carl Richards

New Flag by Carl Richards

Lucky Elephant by Carl Richards

Side of Market Staircase by Ian Lyon

Redevelopment of Market Site 1970's
Courtesy of Lancaster Museum

Spire by Ian Lyon

Cool Trader by Roy Elderton

Outside the Market by Carl Richards

Escape Route by Ian Lyon

Updated New Photographs taken during Photography Sessions on Lancaster Market

Photography Sessions on Lancaster Market!

Unfortunately and to the dismay of Lancaster's Residents and stall holders, the local market is due to close in March. It has long been, as in many towns, the hub of activity where all generations and cultures group together to promote and sell goods that may not be as easy to find in large chains.
 Memories of the market and it's history have beeen a hot topic here at The Helm lately and this has sparked discussions surrounding Lancaster's roots and Maritime history. We decided it would a wonderful opportunity to take it apon ourselves to document it all through the medium of photography and capture it before it disappears!
We'll be holding an exhibition in a few months once the photographs have been framed up at a gallery in Lancaster. We are hoping to have a little film show also at the opening event including 20 years of lancaster market footage filmed by a local man!
Following are a few examples of the photographs taken during the sessions!