It’s a privilege and pleasure to lead a service like Creative Alternatives (CA). I love the variety my role brings but it’s the people who I get to work with, both the participants and my colleagues that bring me the most joy. They never fail to inspire me and keep me wanting to do this job as long as possible.
Going for walks with my dog – I’ll take him to parks, the woods or near the coast; being in nature is very good for my mood. I love being with family and friends as this brings me contentment. I also really enjoy music, comedy and drama whether on the tv/radio and when lucky enough I’ll go to live performances. They transport me to a happier place and help me to be in the moment.
I enjoy dancing (even if it is mainly in my kitchen! 😀) but I go to a weekly dance fitness class that uses ballroom and latin steps but without the pressure of getting the technique right. I try to draw and sketch when possible and although I don’t always get to do a lot of my own art these days, being involved in CA helps me to keep my artistic passion alive.
Helen manages and coordinates everything to do with the Creative Alternatives programme in St Helens. She joined the service in 2015 when it was first commissioned in the borough. She is the person people contact when they first get in touch and she leads the taster, induction sessions and moving forward sessions. A big part of her job is supporting participants throughout their journey with CA – so she gets to know people very well along the way.
Helen has been managing freelance projects that engage communities since 2013. She focuses on creativity and arts-based activities to support people with lived experience of poor mental health. These activities are non-clinical and focus on the person rather than the illness, helping people to thrive and build confidence in what they can do.
Before this, she worked in museums and galleries for 12 years, specialising in informal education and connecting with the community. She developed a wide range of exciting community arts programmes inspired by exhibitions and collections, helping to break down barriers that prevent people getting involved with cultural activities. She has also volunteered on projects supporting arts based activities for adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues.
Helen has a degree in Fine Art and went on to do a fellowship in drawing. She has completed several short courses including counselling, suicide first aid and teaching adults. She is passionate about creative and holistic approaches to improve health and wellbeing; and she truly values the importance of being sincere, caring and empathic when getting to know people, and a little bit of gentle humour can help people to relax too 🙂
