Graduates Funding Fight For Community Art Project
20 October 2010
Working with the community, Inspirative Arts. From left to right-Sarah Paine,Brian and Tracey Cullen.
Inspirative Arts is very person-centred in its approach
”Chris Beech, 48, Advocacy Support Worker for the Derbyshire Advocacy Service.
An art project run by two University of Derby graduates supporting adults with learning disabilities is fighting to avoid having to suspend its activities.
Sarah Paine and Tracey Cullen, 2010 graduates of the University's BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Therapies course, run the innovative project called 'Fun Friday' every week through the community arts organisation, Inspirative Arts, which they founded.
They are now seeking funding opportunities and are fundraising themselves to keep the popular project going.
Fun Friday is held every Friday from 10am to 12noon and 1pm to 3pm at the Revive Healthy Living Centre, in Chaddesden, Derby. It uses art, drama, movement, and music to help clients express themselves and learn new social skills. Activities include puppet making, word association and painting.
Inspirative Arts developed after Sarah worked with adults with severe learning disabilities during the last year of her University course, while on a placement with independent charity Derbyshire Advocacy Service. The charity also supported them at the beginning of their project.
The two graduates received aid setting up Inspirative Arts from the University's Enterprise Inc scheme, which helps students and graduates who have a good business idea to get started.
Initial funding for Inspirative Arts came from the Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF), which aids local authorities in supporting people with learning disabilities.
But Inspirative Arts' funding for Fun Friday is set to run out at the end of this month (October). Sarah and Tracey need £3,000 in sponsorship for the weekly project to run all day Friday, each week, from October to December; or £1,500 to run for a full day on alternate Fridays.
They are also applying for Arts Council funding to ensure the long term future of the project after December (2010).
Tracey, 23, originally from Manchester, now in Derby said: "It's giving them an alternative to learning, they learn through the acts, the whole meaning is to learn and explore about themselves, improving social skills and helping their well being by giving them the space to enjoy themselves".
Sarah, 25, originally from Leeds, now in Derby, added: "The Revive Centre is a community building so it is important to keep a community spirit going, and it is essential for people with learning disabilities not to be excluded from that."
Brian, 51, of Borrowash, Derby, has learning disabilities and has been attending Fun Friday sessions since November 2009 and is now fundraising for them by growing his hair for a sponsored haircut.
He said: "I want to raise money for Fun Fridays because I don't want them to stop. It is so important to me because every time I go there is always something different happening. It offers me activities that I wouldn't normally get the chance to do.
"It would take the fun out of my life if it stopped".
Chris Beech, 48, Advocacy Support Worker for the Derbyshire Advocacy Service, said: "Inspirative Arts is very person-centred in its approach. The Fun Friday sessions in particular offer much more choice and freedom for their clients with what to do during the day. It's a project that provides something different."
If you would like to help Inspirative Arts with its fundraising contact Sarah Paine on mobile 07810 034534 or email: s.paine@inspirativearts.co.uk; or Tracey Cullen on 07871 005490 or email: t.cullen@inspirativearts.co.uk.
For further information on this story please contact Laura Ratcliffe, Alumni Relations Officer on 01332 591368 or 07768 091248 or email l.ratcliffe@derby.ac.uk.
