Bailiwick Social Prescribing has been providing weekly art classes for the past 4 years.

These classes are a rich source of creativity and freedom of expression and for the first time BSP with the support of the Guernsey Arts Commission, are excited to present a vibrant community art exhibition for the whole of August at the George Crossan Gallery.  The exhibition will showcase and celebrate the wonderful art that is produced at the Paint and Create session which takes place on a Friday afternoon under the guidance of local artist Olympia McEwan. ‘The Friday group are pure joy to be with every week. We create beautiful artwork but most importantly connections and friendships. Thank you BSP for making this possible!’ 

The sessions take place on a donation basis, you pay what you can afford and many who attend this session say that it is “the favourite part of their week”.  Firm friendships have been born out of the welcoming atmosphere, the support and the sense of shared purpose. 

The Bailiwick Social Prescribing art groups are thriving communities that bring people together and provide a safe, social space with art as a focus alongside support and inclusion. There’s often lots of chat and laughter!

Evidence shows that taking part in heritage, art, music, creative and expressive activities through can have huge benefits.  

  • It helps people build healthier habits and become more physically active.  
  • It improves emotional, cognitive, and sensory processing, and reduces stress.  
  • It supports potential in many different areas, including improvements in outcomes such as employment and skills, economic development, pride in the local area, and social cohesion. 
  • It helps with physical and mental wellbeing and can help to prevent and treat the long-term conditions that are creating pressure on the healthcare system.  

Bailiwick Social Prescribing can connect people to any type of non-medical support that addresses unmet needs.   It connects people to activities, groups or resources that improve health and wellbeing based on what works for them. For example, this could be a physical activity, a sport, volunteering at a charity shop or accessing counselling, financial support or housing assistance.  Social Prescribing can help change the circumstances that make people unwell and empower people to manage existing health problems, help them grow in confidence and live the best lives they can. 

Jo Hollyer-Hill, Bailiwick Social Prescribing Link Worker, said: “Paint and Create on a Friday is the second art group that BSP commissioned to add an extra creative option to run alongside our Wednesday art group at Styx and Singing for Health Group on a Tuesday at Styx.   It started small but has rapidly grown to a thriving, friendly community which I love socially prescribing to as I know that those we support will be warmly welcomed into the heart of the group.   I often attend the sessions myself and have managed to produce pieces of art I never dreamed possible which is such a huge confidence boost.”

The Paint and Create exhibition will be a celebration of this wonderful art community and will be open daily from 1 – 29 August from 9am-5pm, with free admission.