Footprints' Emerson, Zoe and Helen with Second Chances' artist (second from the left)
For our recent art exhibition, Stories of Renewal, some of the women we support gave their stories in audio recordings that you could listen to or read. We welcome you to listen to or read these stories.
G.G’s Story
Probation referred me to Footprints in 2022 and in 2023 I joined the Art group. At first, I struggled to engage with other people, and I wasn’t sure if I was good enough.
I went to lots of different schools and ended up in school for special needs. I hated it
Afterwards I went to college and did a care course. I don’t remember much, I found it all very difficult, the bullying was the worst.
Now I work part time and sometimes it is very stressful. Coming to the Art group helps me process my feelings and I have made new friends I don’t feel isolated anymore
As time has gone on, I know my artwork has really improved, and I know coming to the group is really good for me.
Last year I was diagnosed with Autism which means I understand ore about myself. Art helps me with this as well.
When I’m making Art, I feel creative, calm and focused.
I hope you enjoy this exhibition
D.W’s Story
I’ve lived with my mum all my life up until she died. She was a force of nature a very strong character. I had a difficult childhood my Mum didn’t understand me, we didn’t connect at all, but as the years went by, she was a great source of support to me through life’s challenges, and we became very close in the later years of her life.
Through a series of unfortunate events, I was referred to Footprints by the Police and then onto the Art Group which I’ve been coming to for a few years
I was excited about joining as I wanted to express myself through art which I have been able to do each week
The group has given me a lot of support and encouragement to be able to do some good art work
I particularly liked doing these collages – I felt very focused whilst working on these and was able to lose myself in the creative process and now am pleased to be able to contribute to something that I can be proud of
Sometimes I feel anxious and depressed but once I get to the art session and we start the process of making art everything goes away for those 2 hours.
J.G’s Story
I first started out in the mental health world when I was 18, I was sectioned for 2 weeks unfortunately this meant for the next 3 years no employer would employ me. So, I sat at home and drank and by the time I was 21 my Borderline Personality Disorder had turned into Schizophrenia. I was put on medication
Things went smoothly for a few years until I hit 25 and I had to leave my young person’s accommodation that year I got into hard drugs via a bad boyfriend choice and that destroyed my mental health and took over every aspect of my life for the next 5 years
At 30 I made the decision to come off the drugs which was the hardest thing of my life. and unfortunately, had been masking how acutely unwell I was, and so began a15-year battle with mental health in and out of prisons hospitals and care centres
I saw the good the bad and the ugly that the mental health world had to offer in the way of treatment but it was whilst I was in hospital that I learnt to do art and I’ve been out of hospital for 2 years now am stable and I do Art every day I love it. This group means I get to see other people like me.
