Arts & Health - what effect can the Arts have on health and wellbeing?

Information, Participation, Expression and Movement
The arts can have a positive effect on health in many ways. The arts can be used as a creative and unthreatening tool to introduce people to health awareness. People are also able to explore and express their concerns about health issues.It can be issue based, i.e. teenage pregnancy, smoking cessation, obesity, or it can be about developing individuals self esteem and well-being through expressive activities.
Involvement in art activity itself has many health benefits connected to raised self-esteem, increased sociability, overcoming boredom and increasing motivation, relaxation and stress relief. People often record a sense of achievement - that may be the stepping-stone to further learning or a positive life change. Creativity generates assets, skills, knowledge and aspirations that contribute to the social and economic well being of a community. Creativity can drive transformation by encouraging learning, developing confidence and unlocking resources and talents which individuals can use as a pathway out of poverty and exclusion. Engaging in creativity gives people a voice, and enables people to contribute to their community.

Exercise can be encouraged in a fun non-threatening environment through movement and dance classes. Apart from the obvious fun that dance has to offer, it is an extremely popular activity with far-reaching health and social benefits that also unlocks people's creativity and imagination and is accessible to all. Even toddlers can discover the magic of dance while developing fitness, co-ordination and rhythm.

Consultation shows that participants are often well aware of unhealthy habits but are unsure about how to improve their health or are uninspired to do so. Forge Arts for Health provides tasty and healthy refreshments at most workshops and provides a relaxing and encouraging environment for people to discuss health concerns as they wish. Each workshop is developed with participant's consultation and addresses their particular needs.

Young People
Working with young people we creatively explore health and lifestyle concerns through rapping and computer programmed music, graffiti art, creative writing, crafts, photography, video art, dance, drama and graphic arts. Forge Arts for Health aims to increase confidence, develop creativity and support young people to make positive life choices. Participants have been very responsive to these sessions, gaining in confidence and as the project develops becoming more involved in planning activities within the sessions and developing an involvement in creative pursuits outside the workshops.

Special Events
Forge Arts for Health are also able to do short projects and one-off events for the local community including festivals, arts workshops and health promotion.

PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES
Teaching young people the latest dance moves as well as helping to develop confidence, improve fitness and flexibility. Participants have opportunities to learn performance skills and develop creativity.

Elsecar Streetdance
Elsecar Parish Hall, Church St, Elsecar; Mondays 4.15pm - 5.30pm

Blacker Hill Streetdance
Blacker Hill Methodist Church, Worsborough Rd, Blacker Hill, Mondays 6pm-7pm

Welland Crescent Community House 'Arts Explosion'
To celebrate the opening of a community house on Welland Crescent, Elsecar .
These activities will bring the community together and involve local people in the launch of their community venue

Children and Young People
Welland crescent, Elsecar; Thursdays 4.30- 6.00

Tankersley Youth Arts Group
graffiti art, creative writing, crafts, photography, video art, dance, drama and graphic arts.
Free for young people who attend the youth club
Tankersley Welfare Hall, Pilley Lane, Tankersley
Fridays 8yrs to 11yrs: 6pm - 7.15pm; 11yrs+: 7.15pm - 9pm

Toddler Dance Time
Teaching dance ideas and movement games using musical instruments, floaty scarfs, balloons, ribbons e.t.c to encourage young children to move to music while improving co-ordination, rhythm and creativity. This is a fun and easy way to develop fitness and help toddlers learn healthy habits.Cloughfields Community Centre, Shaftesbury Drive, Hoyland, Barnsley S74 0HR
Tel 01226 747082 Thursdays 9.30am- 10.30am or 10.45am-11.45am

Little Art (Working with Surestart) and Childrens Mural Workshops
Arts classes for toddlers and their carers. We offer creative, multi-media art classes designed to help build self-confidence, encourage independent thinking, develop problem-solving skills, and enhance individual focus, concentration and fine motor skills. Art classes for children are based on age-appropriate, open-ended creative art. One-off workshops contact Forge Arts for Health for more details

Movement Play for New Babies and their Mums
(for babies between the 6 week medical check and crawling).
Y Gentle yoga stretching and relaxation movement for mums
Y Active movement play with babies
Y Simple baby massage ideas
Y Baby relaxation
Y Refreshments and chance to chat
Cloughfields Community Centre, Shaftesbury Drive, Hoyland, Barnsley. S74 0HR
5 week course, start date to be confirmed.
Thursdays 1pm – 3pm please ring 01226 361249 to reserve a place

Crafts
Arts and Crafts for adults, everyone welcome. Accessible for those with disabilities

Glebe Court Crafts Group
Arts and crafts techniques in a supportive sociable group.
At Glebe Court, Tankersley; Wednesdays, 10.30am – 12.30pm

St Andrews Craft Group
Textile, sewing and embroidery in a supportive sociable group.
St Andrew Church Hall, Hoyland; Tuesdays 1pm – 3pm

Elsecar Craft Group
Textile, sewing and embroidery.
Arts and crafts techniques in a supportive sociable group.
Milton Hall, Elsecar; Fridays 1pm – 3pm

Volunteer Opportunities
A Volunteer Training Programme provides training sessions and volunteering opportunities for adults wishing to gain experience of working with community groups and organising arts projects and artists can gain experience in running community based arts workshops.

CONTACT DETAILS
Arts Coordinator - Sarah Coleman
Forge Arts for Health
Forge Community Partnership
Hoyland Methodist Church
Duke Street
Hoyland
Barnsley
tel 01226 361249 mob 0790 5143169
email sarah-forge@btconnect.com

More Healthy Living Barnsley projects: Forge Arts for Health Hoyland Milton, Hoyland Rockingham & Tankersley Parish; Healthy Living Grimethorpe Grimethorpe, Shafton & Brierley; Royston 'Bridging the Gap' Project Royston & Carlton; V4 Health Matters Darfield, Great Houghton, Little Houghton, Billingley & Middlecliffe; Worsbrough Family Health Project Worsbrough, Worsbrough Common, Worsbrough Bridge; Healthy Living Advocate Initiative Lundwood & Monk Bretton; Penistone Healthy Living and Active Lifestyles Project Penistone East & West; Roundhouse Young People's Project Roundhouse (Athersley, New Lodge and Smithies)