GOOD
FOR THE SOUL | Back
Project
Outline
Good for the Soul was an arts and mental health project that was established by Teesdale District Council and Wear Valley District Council. GFTS forms part of the Dales Healthy Living Centre CHOICE Programme, which has been designed to encourage healthier living in Teesdale and Wear Valley.
Funding
for GFTS has come from the New Opportunities Fund, Arts
Council England North East and Teesdale and Wear Valley
District Councils.
The
key objective of GFTS is to develop and provide arts projects
for people in the Durham Dales who are at risk of mild to
moderate mental ill-health. The range of arts activities
being considered includes:
Cinema & film
Circus skills - juggling, balance
Crafts - Textiles
Ceramics
Embroidery
Glass
Fashion & Clothing
Creative writing
Dance and movement
Digital arts
Drama
Music
Photography
Radio & Sound
Storytelling & walks
Film & Video
Visual Arts
Painting
Sculpture
Drawing
Print-making
Collage
New Media
GFTS worked with a range of health-care and other professionals in order to promote the opportunities for participation. Part of this involved an ‘arts on prescription’ scheme, which involved GPs referring patients to GFTS.
A responsive small grants scheme was also being set up to enable targeted groups to provide arts and cultural experiences for health benefits.
As part of the research and development of GFTS, ARTS UK was appointed to establish a range of core elements, onto which a part-time co-ordinator developed a range of arts workshops, projects and other activities.