Art and Wellbeing AGM

It was wonderful to see so many people at our AGM this year which took place on Thursday 10th November at ST Peters Church.

Our current theme of Art and Wellbeing was brought to life by two visiting speakers from the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Team Manager, Beverley McPherson-Young, spoke first about the different services available to young people in the district and Mandy Fisher, an Art Therapist with CAMHS, followed on with an account of the work that she does with young people who are experiencing with very complex mental health issues.

Mandy also presented some of the work that she had completed with a young person who had also been supported by Friends of the Family’s 5s to 13s Befriending service. The transcript of his thoughts about his art therapy experience (read by 5s to 13s Befriending Manager Sam Hunt) demonstrated the power of art for everyone’s mental health and wellbeing in a sensitive and moving way. One attendee said afterwards “I felt so emotional hearing the lad’s words and the incredible journey he has been on with Mandy’s support.”

During a wonderful lunch provided by MUNCH, guests had the chance to network with each other and explore the work that our children and adults have produced during recent art and cookery sessions.
One guest emailed after the event and said “I just wanted to thank you very much for inviting me to your AGM, for the relaxed yet efficient atmosphere (always difficult to achieve), for the excellent presentation on Art Therapy and the superb lunch. I also very much enjoyed chatting to your volunteers and came away buzzing with excitement, thrilled to have met some lovely people and thoroughly enthused by Friends of The Family.”