Lucie Stephens from the New Economics Foundation presentation at December’s Building Community Capacity Network on the importance of arts and culture to our wellbeing, was both moved and inspiring.
One of the organisations featured in Lucie’s presentation was Heart n Soul, a leading creative arts company who believe in the power and talents of people with learning disabilities.
Here Artistic Director of Heart n Soul, Mark Williams, describes what Heart n Soul do in more detail.
“Heart n Soul believe in the power and talents of people with learning disabilities. We want to make a more equal, open, fun and creative world for everyone.
Allsorts is our creative participatory programme for adults with learning disabilities aged 18-65 looking to learn new skills, broaden their social networks and enjoy greater independence. It offers access to a wide choice of art forms with creative sessions facilitated by professional artists and arts organisations. There is also a Lucky Dip room which acts as a chill out space for those who just want to ‘be’ and is also a hub for information from guest organisations.
All the seasons are co-produced with our steering/advisory team of participants/artists who decide what each season is going to consist of. They are able to make these decisions because they have ‘tasted’ a wide range of creative sessions that might range from 3 D printing to beat boxing to yoga to a digital music jam session.
We invite in guest visiting artists who bring new skills, experiences and art forms to the table. Sometimes this is their first experience of working with people with learning disabilities in which case they are introduced to the sessions and people through light touch mentoring by members of the steering team/advisory group.
We can accommodate up to 50 people each Allsorts session and participants come from all over London and the surrounding area. Some are FACS eligible and use their personal budgets to pay to attend, others receive no services and pay a nominal £5.”
