Throwdown Half Term Project (Splash Arts Cymru)
The half term ‘Throwdown’ project gave young people from across Carmarthenshire the opportunity to work with three professional Arts Care Gofal Celf Artists in a multi arts project involving graffiti, dance and music. Participants not only engaged in developing their dance skills and perfecting difficult moves but as a group they created four music tracks and designed and decorated a wall at the venue which will be a lasting memory of their achievements and hopefully act as a source of inspiration for groups in the future.
Overall, the project had a positive impact on the young people’s personal development, enabling them to try new things, develop a range of skills throughout the week as well as a new way of communicating which motivated the young people leading to an increase in their confidence and self-esteem. This interpretation was supported in a statement from staff supporting the group… “It was wonderful to see the level of commitment that the young people gave to the project, and it was clear that they got a lot out of it as well. We do hope that they now have a greater appreciation of arts and that this has provided them with another avenue for the future. Feedback from the young people was overwhelmingly positive, many of them asking for more projects like this to be run during school holidays.”



Barnardos
Over the years, Arts Care Gofal Celf have kindly received funding from Carmarthenshire County Councils Arts and Leisure Department enabling us to support vulnerable young people through Barnardos young carers by providing them with the enriching opportunity to work with professional artists in a range of activities over the summer break. The benefits of such work have been stated and confirmed year after year by artist’s feedback as well as observations and comments made by support staff.
The Childrens services
manager commented:
“Over the years, the Arts Care summer programme has been of enormous
benefit to our young carers. Young carers have been able to learn new
skills, increase their confidence and benefit from team building
opportunities. The artists have been fantastic at working with young
people with low self esteem and encouraging them to reach their full
potential. Many of the young carers that we support are bullied and/or
self harm and they have found other ways of expressing themselves using
an artistic medium. Without the Arts Care funding, we as a service would
be unable to fund these sessions and the young people would miss out on
these valuable opportunities. The majority of the young carers live in
abject poverty, are socially isolated and would not be able to enjoy
these activities as part of their family/social life.”
Below are just some of the images from previous summer programmes:


Community Mental Health Programme
The
community mental health programme began as a pilot project in 2008/9 and
was set within community venues within Carmarthenshire targeting
individuals living in the community in addition to people linked to
services thus offering a more open programme. The project was initially
met with some uncertainty as it was a big change to our long and
successful history of work within mental health settings however by the
end of the first year its new success was evident. Arts Care Gofal Celf
are still able to work within mental health settings and are very keen
to do so as such work is invaluable however the funding from Hywel Dda
and Carmarthenshire County Council currently supports a more community
focussed programme, please see ‘whats on’.
The activity programmes at each of the community venues has been tailored to the needs of the people in the local area as a result of information gathered via carefully designed questionnaires as well as through conversation with groups and individuals. Feedback has resulted in diverse programmes of activities over the years enabling people to try new art forms through taster workshops as well as develop and build upon skills learnt during previous workshops.
Outcomes
of such workshops have encouraged the personal development of those
attending in a number of ways: individuals have overcome barriers to
accessing sessions in the community; interacted with different
individuals outside of their familiar environment so developing people
skills and providing further opportunities to network; learnt new skills
and revelled in the opportunity to achieve goals in a supportive and
encouraging environment. Ultimately, the professionally led workshops
have provided the opportunity for individuals to have fun and gain new
skills in a relaxed and friendly environment resulting in raised levels
of self-esteem and confidence which are important in recovery.
Participants have made comments such as…
“I learnt to keep smiling; the world can be a beautiful place”
“I could sit and do this forever”
“It gave me something to talk about at home when I usually have nothing
to say”
“Relaxing, enchanting and fun”
“Very enjoyable time, interacting, discussing and a few good laughs”
Support staff have commented…
“It gave clients the opportunity to try different crafts. It raises
self-esteem when they are successful in producing something at the end
of the sessions. It stretches the boundaries to go somewhere different
and meet new artists. It gives opportunities to interact with other
people in a larger group. It gives skills which can be used in the
future. The sessions are fun- which raises low mood”
“Thank you so much, it is a wonderful service”
“Many thanks for an enjoyable afternoon. The activities were well
organised by yourselves and everyone was ready to get going. Work
produced was exciting colourful and inventive. People felt free and
comfortable to have fun and enjoy”.

For more photos and to watch the film, please click here
Catalyst Turning Point Project
Catalyst, turning point asked ACGC to organise an activity suitable for a staff away day. ACGC Artist, Sian Stanford worked with the group making individual mosaic coasters and a collaborative group piece.


“Thank you so much for all your help and assistance with the organisation of the day. The mosaic session was fantastic and everyone really enjoyed it… I will be keeping acgc in mind for personal events as well as work related activities”
Llanelli Railway Station
Project
Congratulations
to all involved in the Llanelli railway station project…another
successful venture! Young people from Bryngwyn School in Llanelli were
involved in a four week partnership project involving Arts Care Gofal
Celf, Carmarthenshire County Council Youth Service, The Engage Project,
Bryngwyn School, Arriva Trains Wales and Celtic Concrete Products. Young
people were given the opportunity to be involved in this exciting
project to improve the station area. It was deemed an important target
area as the station acts as a visitors first impression of the town.
The
project included repainting the inside of the station footbridge and
gates and the creation of eight raised flower beds on the platforms.
Arts Care Gofal Celf artist Elaine Franks worked with the young people
to help choose the plants and to guide the planting over the course of
the project and states “I am absolutely delighted with the progress and
results of this project, and like the young people, am rather proud of
what has been achieved”.
The
project’s success was celebrated when the Mayor of Llanelli unveiled a
commemorative plaque at the station on Tuesday 29th November 2011. First
impressions are important and now all who pass through Llanelli station
will be greeted with what will hopefully be a good and lasting
impression of the welcoming sights thanks to the hard work of the young
people involved…job well done.

Intergenerational project ‘Creating Connections’
We were approached by Carmarthenshire Education and Children’s Services to help organise and develop a project which aimed to bridge the gap between the younger and older generations. We worked with Plasydderewn Residential Home in Johnstown and children from Johnstown Primary School in an intergenerational animation project led by Arts Care Gofal Celf artist, Jonathan Winstanley.
The
project was a huge success and led to the making of the animated film
‘Creating Connections’. The film not only demonstrates the vast number
of skills learnt throughout the process but captures the development of
the relationships forged over the period of the project thus acting as a
lasting memory of their time together. Since the project has ended links
between the school and the residential home have been strengthened and
it is hope that their relationships will continue for some time to come.
“It was amazing how the pupils felt so at home with the residents and how happy the residents were to see them. I am so impressed with how Jonathan has got everybody working so well together and with the images and photos and models and discussions which have taken place” staff at Carmarthenshire Education and Children's Service.
For more photos and to watch the film, please click here
World Mental Health Week
Arts Care Gofal Celf supported World Mental Health Week
at 2 events across Carmarthenshire. The aim of these events was to
celebrate the importance of good mental health and to illustrate the
importance of tackling stigma around mental health.
In Llangadog on Monday 10th October 2011 we worked with the
Carmarthenshire Mental Health Forum, West Wales Action for Mental
Health, carers and service users of the Towy Valley Community Mental
Health Team to organise a very successful event. Our artists facilitated
workshops in leather work, pottery, harp playing and Indian head massage
which were all enjoyed by many.
On Tuesday 11th October 2011, we supported Llanelli Mind in their awareness raising event with a music workshop headed by Bongo Clive in Llanelli town centre. The event also gave 4 talented individuals the perfect platform to showcase a song that they had created as a result of their hard work and dedication during workshops through the Arts Care Gofal Celf local community mental health programme.
For more photos, please click here
The Big
Draw 2010
Llanelli town centre:
Sian Boissevain and Sally Price from Arts Care Gofal Celf facilitated drawing workshops at the event, supporting the public to “make their mark on the future”. People were encouraged to share their thoughts, dreams and aspirations for the future through drawing and mark making results of which were then displayed on the ‘Arts Care future tree’.

For more photos, please click here
Llandovery and Llandeilo Railway Projects
We were approached by a youth worker at MOBI (a partnership project
between Carmarthenshire Youth Service and Plant Dewi), to help organise
a project which encouraged young people at risk of becoming NEET (not in
education, employment or training) to engage in a number of creative
workshops to improve their local train stations making them welcoming
for all in the community and visitors alike. The project was organised
through a partnership with MOBI, Arts Care Gofal Celf, Ysgol Gyfun
Pantycelyn, Ysgol Gyfun Tregib with support from 'Friends of Llandovery
Station’ and Arriva Trains Wales and made possible through funding
secured from Engage. The young people were the creators, leaders and
decision makers in all aspects of the project and were supported in this
process by support staff, qualified youth workers and the artist
themselves with fantastic results.
Llandovery Railway Station

Young people from Ysgol Gyfyn Pantycelin had hands on experience working with one of Arts Care Gofal Celfs' professional artist, Veronica Gibson to create a painted mural, fit for the eyes of royalty!
Llandeilo train station

Young people from Ysgol Gyfun Tregib had hands on experience working
with another of Arts Care Gofal Celfs professional artists, Teena Gould
to create a mosaic mural and plant flowers to brighten the planters on
the platform. Although not viewed by royalty, this project along with
the Llandovery project did appear in Carmarthenshire Life magazine,
issue 145 demonstrating to all in the county the achievements of all the
young people involved in the project.
For more photos, please click here
Llansteffan Community Garden Project
Plant Dewi approached
Arts Care Gofal Celf (ACGC) to help with developing the outdoor area of
Llansteffan village hall, High Street, Llansteffan with funding they had
secured through Gwirfol. After consultation with ACGC it was decided to
focus attention on: a garden mural led by Sue Hagerty, landscaping
guided by Elaine Franks and decorative willow sculptures with Helen
Campbell. The young people worked hard over the four day intensive
project and this did not go unnoticed after appearing in an article
written by Simon Davies in Carmarthenshire Life magazine issue 145.
Feedback from one of the Arts Care Gofal Celf artist captures the
success of the project:
“The participants clearly enjoyed a great sense of achievement and
pride in what they had done. Many remarked that they were amazed at what
they had been able to do, and that they hadn’t thought it was going to
be possible at the start of the project. By the end of the last session
we had transformed a dismal, rubbish filled back yard into a beautiful
garden filled with flowers, fruit and herbs. Relationships within the
group and between the group and the community had been explored and
improved. The participants had stretched their abilities and learned new
skills, they have produced a garden that they are very proud of, and
will enjoy for a long time to come…it has been an outstanding success
for all concerned”.

For more photos, please click here
We are always keen to discuss ideas for new projects with prospective
partners and offer advice as to which arts forms and artists would best
suit your individual requirements.
Should you wish to discuss your ideas for a project with us please click
here to get in touch.

