Carers in Stockport put on an exhibition of art – all made from recycled materials following a series of classes. The recycled art workshops began last September.
Heatons resident and workshop leader Mo Fox teamed up with Signpost, an independent local charity who have been supporting carers tin the borough for over 30 years, in a bid for funding National Lottery through The Arts Council.
Art teacher Mo, 55, from Heaton Moor, who also used to create and sell ceramics, is currently doing a Masters in Fine Art and made the bid as part of her degree.
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After they were awarded a grant a group of around 25 carers have been taking part in the weekly classes since. They have created a range of unique pieces of art using old paper and card materials such as old maps, music books, newspapers, and magazines.
Some of the carers have produced sculptures, mosaics, pieces of origami, weaving, and a range of other techniques.
It culminated in an exhibition at the beautiful Heatons Centre in Heaton Moor which is owned by Signpost at the end of June where the creative careers were able to showcase their work. with a second exhibition at Stockport At Gallery planned for the new year.
However, for many of them, it has been about much more than the art, Mo said.
"It's a break from their caring responsibilities," she said. "And it ended up at times being almost therapeutic, a place where people could come together.
"Sometimes people would come to the class and they were very upset as something had happened at home, and they wouldn't be up to doing much other than having a cup of tea or coffee. But they would do that and take the work home with them.
"It is a very supportive group and everyone is going through similar things, so being able to support each other like that has been really important for them.
"But some have also got really, really into it and have said how much they enjoyed the art itself. We have had an ex-science teacher, an ex-scientist, lots of different people from different backgrounds. And the work they've produced has been amazing. Just fabulous.
"It has given them so much self-confidence and a boost to their self-esteem. It has also given them something to take home and show their loved ones. It's just become so much more than I ever could have thought of."
One of those to take part was former primary school teacher Jenny Crosbie, 72, from Gatley who has been a carer for 20 years and has been involved with Signpost for around six years.
"I used to do art with the kids at school" she said "but hardly ever got the chance to have a go myself.
"But Mo was great in facilitating the class. We'd meet on a Friday morning for about two hours and she'd bring normally two ideas to try. Lots of different techniques, all of which I'd seen the end product of before but had never tried.
"So I think trying something new and finishing these pieces of work gave us a lot of confidence.
"We also got on very well with each other. I think for a lot of us it was the one time we knew we were going to do something for ourselves, sit down and have a nice cup of coffee or tea, life's simple pleasures.
"And the camaraderie was very evident as we often we didn't talk about what was going on at home, we talked about what we were doing in the class."
Louise Cooke, one of the participants said: “We are an assorted group of carers who love the chat. Yes, we share worries but also celebrate each other’s happy events. To do it in a creative atmosphere with a lovely, inspirational teacher really is enormous fun."
Mo is now planning a second funding bid to help continue the workshops and pay for exhibition costs such as framing.
Julia Hewer, Director of Signpost, said “Mo has been an inspiration to these carers, not only in creating an array of incredible work but also generating an environment that is supportive, non-judgemental and a total break from the caring role. "We can’t thank her enough.”
You can read more about the project here and find out more about Signpost and their work here.
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