Saturday, 6 October 2012
Friday, 28 September 2012
Music Production & Animation FREE workshops!
The London borough of Merton has commissioned a joint venture between JVT and visual arts charity ACAVA (Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Arts). The initiative comprises animation and music production workshops.
The music production workshops are scheduled to take place at Crown Lane studios in the heart of Morden town centre. The first session will be in early November. There are still a few places left.
Animation workshops will take place at ACAVA's arts space studios in Lombard Road Merton.
The initiative is part of borough plans to promote long-term health and development in accordance with the cultural Olympiad.
If you have a mental health condition and live in the London Borough of Merton, you are eligible for this free course programme.
For more information please e-mail john@johnvanektrainings.com or phone Isabella Niven on 0208 960 5015
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
Music Production & Animation courses FREE!
Now operating throughout the UK, JVT (John Vanek Trainings) is excited to announce a new commission for mental health music and arts training.
The London borough of Merton has commissioned a joint venture between JVT and visual arts charity ACAVA (Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Arts). The initiative comprises animation and music production workshops.
The music production workshops are scheduled to take place at Crown Lane studios in the heart of Morden town centre. The first session is August 23rd at 9.45 a.m.
Animation workshops will take place at ACAVA's arts space studios in Lombard Road Merton.
The initiative is part of borough plans to promote long-term health and development in accordance with the cultural Olympiad.
If you have a mental health condition and live in the London Borough of Merton, you are eligible for this free course programme.
For more information please e-mail john@johnvanektrainings.com
Music production and Animation courses FREE!
Now operating throughout the UK, JVT (John Vanek Trainings) is excited to announce a new commission for mental health music and arts training.
The London borough of Merton has commissioned a joint venture between JVT and visual arts charity ACAVA (Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Arts). The initiative comprises animation and music production workshops.
The music production workshops are scheduled to take place at Crown Lane studios in the heart of Morden town centre. The first session is August 23rd at 9.45 a.m.
Animation workshops will take place at ACAVA's arts space studios in Lombard Road Merton.
The initiative is part of borough plans to promote long-term health and development in accordance with the cultural Olympiad.
If you have a mental health condition and live in the London Borough of Merton, you are eligible for this free course programme.
For more information please e-mail john@johnvanektrainings.com
Monday, 23 July 2012
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Peer support in mental health
A good deal of discussion is taking place around the idea of peer support workers in mental health practice. A recent Guardian article entitled 'Putting the lunatics in charge of the asylum' has highlighted the debate.
It's not just the 'asylum', hospital, day centre or residential setting where peer support working can take place. Nor does a peer support or recovery worker have to be an official post, paid or voluntary within the NHS or any clinical setting.
Peer support in mental health is taking place informally all over the place. Many peer supporters would not even give themselves such a title. In many cases they are simply spending time with the friends they already know or with the peers who have accessed a setting or venue which attracts them too.
As a bridge builder who has signposted people with severe and enduring mental health diagnoses to mainstream settings of their own choice, I have witnessed this peer support happen over and again.
Four years ago I signposted a client to a mainstream recording studio. With the help of direct payments he has been accessing this venue weekly ever since, practising guitar and collaborating with others in the studio. He has also secured part-time employment as a studio assistant, getting the rehearsal rooms ready for bands and bookings.
What has happened as a result of this client's involvement is an informal cascading of peer support and group participation. Again, this has occurred with very little prompting from the bridge builder. As my client relishes working with other musicians, he is happy to have peers who also wish to participate i.e. start a band during his weekly studio sessions. This has resulted in a drummer peer and a singer peer rehearsing regularly together with Bernie (not his real name). Another peer also attends regularly - a long-term friend of Bernie who is learning guitar from him and who has previously been impossible to place by the bridge building team in any mainstream setting.
This is informal and highly effective peer support. Above all, it is taking place in mainstream not in any clinical, residential or daycare setting. Recovery that takes place in mainstream allows for hope, confidence, friendship, group projects and routes to employment.
It's not just the 'asylum', hospital, day centre or residential setting where peer support working can take place. Nor does a peer support or recovery worker have to be an official post, paid or voluntary within the NHS or any clinical setting.
Peer support in mental health is taking place informally all over the place. Many peer supporters would not even give themselves such a title. In many cases they are simply spending time with the friends they already know or with the peers who have accessed a setting or venue which attracts them too.
As a bridge builder who has signposted people with severe and enduring mental health diagnoses to mainstream settings of their own choice, I have witnessed this peer support happen over and again.
Four years ago I signposted a client to a mainstream recording studio. With the help of direct payments he has been accessing this venue weekly ever since, practising guitar and collaborating with others in the studio. He has also secured part-time employment as a studio assistant, getting the rehearsal rooms ready for bands and bookings.
What has happened as a result of this client's involvement is an informal cascading of peer support and group participation. Again, this has occurred with very little prompting from the bridge builder. As my client relishes working with other musicians, he is happy to have peers who also wish to participate i.e. start a band during his weekly studio sessions. This has resulted in a drummer peer and a singer peer rehearsing regularly together with Bernie (not his real name). Another peer also attends regularly - a long-term friend of Bernie who is learning guitar from him and who has previously been impossible to place by the bridge building team in any mainstream setting.
This is informal and highly effective peer support. Above all, it is taking place in mainstream not in any clinical, residential or daycare setting. Recovery that takes place in mainstream allows for hope, confidence, friendship, group projects and routes to employment.
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