Picture a person searching for well-being support. Maybe they are lonely or at a loose end, bereaved or new in an area or in a country. Maybe they’re ill, anxious or depressed. Imagine this person hears about different well-being support where they are, maybe through a social prescriber. Picture them turning up at a drop in at well-being cafe on the one hand and a scheduled support group on the other. Or imagine they go to a regular group and also to a one off event. How will the experiences differ? Which will prove more helpful, more intimidating, more relaxing, more supportive?
Over the last few weeks I have led art and craft for well-being for some different groups. One was a drop in session. One was a one off scheduled group workshop. The others were regular, ongoing scheduled groups. Reflecting on the events afterwards, I started comparing these different models.
Imagining someone turning up for the first time at a drop in session, I can see it could feel more informal and relaxed. Someone who struggles with commitment or feels unsure about going along at all may well prefer a drop in. It’s flexible so they can suit themselves in how long they stay. There’s no pressure to do anything in particular, so they could just go along to sit for a while, have a coffee or do some arts and craft or play cards only if they want to do so. There’s a freedom and spontaneity about it, but that very informality may not work for everyone. Drop ins can be very hands off. I can imagine that if someone comes along hoping for company and to get to know new people, this might not happen. People come and go at different times and some just end up sitting on their own support worker, support worker, or in a little huddle with others. There can be a lot less interaction.
From an art for well-being perspective, drop ins can be very bespoke and flexible. I set out a variety of ideas so people had a choice. There’s also more likely to be a one to one approach – one lady wanted me to demonstrate a particular craft activity step by step, just for her.
Then picture a person going along to a scheduled group. They might feel nervous or trapped, knowing the group lasts a set amount of time, maybe feeling they’ll be expected to talk and contribute, or to take part in a specific activity which they may not like. This could reduce engagement and attendance, but they may find this more structured model more cohesive, helpful, and motivating. They’re more likely to get to know other attendees and build connections. And from an art for well-being perspective, a scheduled group makes creativity far more of a shared activity, as people all go about an idea at one time, interpreting it in different ways, and then get to see at the end what others have made or produced, laughing over mistakes and challenges along the way, and seeing what media or materials others use, all enriches the experience. Then again, the very idea of show and tell might see the person head for the door.
And how do one off workshops compare with regular, ongoing groups? A one-off workshop will most likely be focused on a specific issue, like an art workshop for an illness support charity, or a session on welfare support or on living aids. For someone who’s interested to learn more on that specific issue, a one-off workshop may be the most beneficial. Or for someone wary of commitment, a one-off can be a chance to trial a group with no pressure to return. But if the event introduces an activity that people might like to continue, like art or drama, then it needs to signpost how they can pursue the activity.
Regular, ongoing groups become part of someone’s routine, a goal in the week or month, a little community which can be warm and supportive and form bonds. But someone might find them too regular, feel pressure never to miss a session, or find them limiting. In sharing art for well-being, ongoing groups enable people to experiment with a wide variety of themes and styles over time. Even sometimes to cooperate on a group production, such as a mural or wall hanging.
Imagine that person searching for support. If these different models all exist locally or online, then which the person finds most positive may depend mostly on their personality or on other commitments and issues. Unpredictable health might make it difficult for them to commit to a weekly group, for example. How important it is then that well-being support is as varied as possible. And just this week, the NHS has announced plans to open drop in community mental health hubs in public places like libraries and banks, to make mental health care more accessible, another example of the drop in model.
Medley 