Date: 2024
Ep 21
During 2024, I started further developing my skills and experience in recording, producing and editing sound as part of a Develop Your Creative Practice (DYCP) grant from Arts Council England. I’ve been working with a range of organisations, professionals and participants who put health and wellbeing at the heart of their creative and cultural practices, to capture the stories and impact that being creative has on everyone involved.
The first in the series comes from Abbey Physic Community Garden in Faversham, Kent – where I live!
Abbey Physic Community Garden (APCG) is an inclusive, accessible community resource providing companionship, therapeutic activities, training and skill building for people with mental health issues and those who are socially isolated. It has over 400 members with between 70 and 95 people taking part in activities each week, including: gardening, art, poetry, singing, cooking, men’s shed, and so much more!
In June 2024, the garden celebrated its 30th anniversary of supporting people with mental health issues. I was lucky enough to be able to capture some of the stories from people who have been involved in the garden from its inception, along with current staff, members and volunteers. I’m hugely grateful for them sharing and trusting me with their stories.
Suzanne Campbell, Manager of the garden says: “Wow, what an incredibly beautiful piece of work you have produced….You have absolutely captured the essence of the garden. It`s like you have used magic thread to weave together the many different life journeys /stories that bring people together at the garden. It`s wonderful., amazing and very emotional. Thank you.”
Thank you to Jane Pitt and Kevin Grist who have been mentors in this project, supporting me in developing my technical audio and storytelling skills.
I hope you enjoy listening. If you’d like to commission an audio story about your organisation, project, participants or to bring learning and impact to life, get in touch.
Links
abbeyphysic.org
Socials
@abbeyphysic
@creativehealthstories
This episode was supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
