Nature, Art, and Healing: A Workshop with VAR’s Mental Health Network

Posted: July 10, 2024

As part of the upcoming zine, created by Voluntary Action Rotherham (VAR), we set up a workshop and invited leaders from VAR’s Mental Health Network to join us for an artistic walk. We know that the connection and benefits between mental health and being in nature are paramount, and this was an opportunity to offer some respite to those working on the front-line helping people with their mental health, to have some time for themselves. It also offered inspiration when they go back and work in their communities.

Alison, Community Engagement at Flux Rotherham led on the artistic element on the day. Attendees were asked to walk around the site, gathering pieces of nature to print onto a very long and large canvas. Folks could also go off and find a peaceful spot simply to draw the scene around them, or anything else they felt inspired by.

This is the second Mental Health zine that VAR have brought together, highlighting and demonstrating the vital work of the voluntary and community sector in supporting people with their mental health and saving lives. The overall theme of this years’ zine is death, loss and grief and we hope to launch at this years’ Rotherham Show.

Written and photographed by Amy Forde (Engagement and Communications Officer at Voluntary Action Rotherham)

This walk was as a part of Green & Growing project.