No, the Creative Alternatives programme is free and fully funded by St Helens Council.
The maximum number of people in the group is 10. We aim to keep our groups small so as not to overwhelm people who are living with anxiety and low confidence. And to also allow for a quality, person-centred experience.
To refer yourself onto the programme please download and complete our self-referral form.
Alternatively, you can call Helen Holden, Programme Manager on 07745 590 698 and/or email helen@creativealternatives.org.uk
A health or social care professional who knows you can also refer you by downloading and completing the professional referral form.
We will then be in touch to have an informal chat to introduce ourselves and invite you to a one-off creative taster session where you can meet us in person. This session allows you to choose if we’re the right service for you. If you feel it is then you will then be offered a place on the programme at the next available entry point.
We currently offer two groups that run weekly on a Thursday afternoon and a Friday morning primarily in St Helens Town Hall, Victoria Square.
From the point we receive a referral there is usually no more than 6-8 weeks to wait to start the programme but our initial contact will be within 1-2 weeks. Once a place is available you will be invited to a Welcome Meeting which will get you started on the Creative Alternatives journey.
We offer our participants a minimum of 7 or a maximum of 12 weekly sessions which last for 2 hours a week. Either option includes a Welcome meeting at the start and a Moving Forward session at the end. Once you start on the programme you can decide whether you would like to do one or two 5-week blocks of creative sessions. If you decide you’d like to access the full 12 weeks there will be a break in between the blocks, usually for a couple of weeks (depending on when you join it might be longer).
No. We feel that being part of a regular group and committing to a weekly process is the best way to improve your mental wellbeing and help you feel better. For this reason, we do not promote Creative Alternatives as a ‘drop-in’ service but we ask you to do your best to commit to the full programme (whether that be for 7 or 12 weeks). Regular attendance deepens your experience of being part of a group, seeing and working alongside the same people each week; and it also supports you to complete a creative project from start to finish, increasing a sense of pride and achievement.
The creative sessions are run by two Creative Facilitators who are experienced in delivering community arts and health projects. They each have a specific creative skill set which they bring to the sessions. Our sessions are carefully designed to work in harmony with the Creative Alternatives Promise to provide you with opportunities to experience play, a sense of achievement, relaxation, a deeper connection and opportunities for self-exploration. The Welcome and Moving Forward sessions will be led by Helen, whom you will have already met during your taster session.
On the first day of the creative sessions Hazel, Sian and Sarah will introduce the project you will all be exploring together over the 5 week block. Everyone will be supported in their exploration through experimenting with materials and ideas. The process is the most important element of engaging with Creative Alternatives – rather than the finished piece – so there is no right or wrong – just exploration! The sessions start with a 5 minute mindfulness meditation to enable relaxation – and sometimes we explore writing as well in the sessions.
Creative Alternatives believe the arts are integral to good health and wellbeing; and taking part can really help to relieve the symptoms associated with anxiety, depression and stress.
Each five-week block of sessions will focus on one themed project to allow you to experiment and try new ideas, developing both your skills and confidence…
Examples of projects we have explored include: wire sculptures, clay tiles, memory boxes, textile hangings, shadow puppets, mandalas; and abstract ink art. Some of our sessions/projects may also include some word-based creativity such as expressive writing and poetry; if this is something you’d prefer to try then let us know.
We appreciate starting anything new can be daunting and sometimes anxiety inducing. If you would prefer to bring someone to support you during the initial taster session, such as a health care professional or a key worker, it’s completely fine. We just ask if you can let us know before you attend.
While we understand you may need support for the initial session, we do ask participants to attend the weekly sessions independently, so it allows you to find your own way of being part of the group which in turn will then help to build your confidence.
No. You don’t have to have a creative background or artistic ability to take part in our sessions; all we ask is for you to come with an open mind and willingness get involved in a creative group activity.
The current programme is open to people aged 18 and over (there is no upper age limit). We are inclusive to all genders.
Although the sessions are therapeutic in nature, Creative Alternatives is different to art therapy because we do not discuss feelings in the group in a psychodynamic way. Our approach will allow you to express yourself with the creative experiences, along with the support you are given and the social connections you will develop during your time on Creative Alternatives programme, can be very therapeutic for our participants.
We provide a safe, non-judgemental space for anything that might be shared but we do not ask you to talk about yourself or your life in the creative sessions. The focus is on the creative activities, and you may find they help you to express yourself, reflect on your experiences, and notice positive changes.
The short mindfulness practice at the start of each session is an opportunity to shift focus and prepare for the session by becoming more aware of ourselves and where we are. You can either follow along with the guided practice or just sit back and relax for a few minutes.
