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How Can We Do This Better?

Part of 2.8 Million Minds.

Arrive at 1.30pm –  2 – 5pm. 14 March, 2022

Lancaster Room, New Wing, Somerset House

https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/plan-your-visit

Capacity is 70 people – booking essential. 

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How can young people use art and culture to create change in their mental health and change how mental health care is imagined, delivered and funded?

Bernie Grants Art Centre, Chisenhale Gallery and the vacuum cleaner would like to invite you to a round table event called How Can We Do This Better? As part of their new young people and mental health project 2.8 Million Minds.

Join us for this warm, informal and participatory event to understand what art and culture could and needs to do for young people’s mental health in London. In small groups we will ask you a series of simple questions to help us understand and try to answer the question How can young people use art and culture to create change in their mental health and change how mental health care is imagined, delivered and funded?

This event is an important space for young people, artists, mental health professionals, youth workers, cultural providers and researchers to be in the same room and share how we can work more closely, share knowledge, access resources more easily and collectively imagine how art can serve young people and their mental health. It is a space to dream big, imagine something not yet real and listen to each other’s frustrations, achievements and ambitions. We will do this by using a loose form of consensus decision making and creative thinking exercises – which basically means – trying to find common ground and being imaginative.

This afternoon of being together and collective learning will feed into the Greater London Authority’s – Supporting Young people’s mental health through art and culture action plan.

The event will be facilitated in small groups by the staff from Bernie Grants Arts Centre, Chisenhale Gallery and the vacuum cleaner. The hope is everyone is given space to speak, communicate and share.

It will be fun, relaxed event. Please take time to read the details below around disability access, covid safety and safer spaces.

Tea and coffee will be provided, you are welcome to bring your own snacks, especially if they are for sharing (though make others aware of allergy stuff).

City Hall’s Culture Team is shaping a three year programme of work called Thriving Through Culture in partnership with Thrive LDN and The Baring Foundation. This programme  promotes the role of creativity in the lives of people with mental health problems. We created Thriving Through Culture to deliver cultural activities to support the mental health needs of children and young people.

RSVP Here.

Access

  • Access to the Lancaster Room details are here – https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/accessibility
  • There will be BSL interpretation.
  • Audio description available on request – please give us 48 hours to arrange this for you.
  • The event is informal. You are welcome to move around, make noise and rest in this space – we would recommend bringing your own soft materials for relaxing or laying down.
  • This event involves discussions of mental health which can be triggering.
  • This event will include detailed conversations and some complex language which means it may not be accessible to some  learning disabled people. If you feel excluded by this, we are happy to try and find ways to be more inclusive, but we are not experts in this field.
  • The event will begin with an agenda and sequence for the day.
  • There will be two breaks.
  • We request attendees do not wear fragrances or strong smells. https://www.portland.gov/civic/disability/fragrance-free-spaces
  • Attendees will be asked to wear a name badge including gender pronouns.

Covid safety

We take Covid very seriously, particularly in disabled spaces. We expect everyone that can to wear a mask during the whole event, we would recommend a high quality FFP2 mask. Please take a lateral flow test at least 24 hours before attending. Please wrap up warm as the space will be ventilated.

Safer spaces/vibes/Madlove. – This is a safer spaces policy we have used for pervious events, it is by no means perfect and we are always looking to make it better.

  1. Ableism, homophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia, or prejudice based on ability, asylum status, class, ethnicity, gender, gender presentation, nationality, or religion is not welcome here.
  2. Each of us has different physical and emotional boundaries that must be respected. Please get verbal consent before crossing these  boundaries.
  3. Be aware of the privileges you bring and how that may affect others.
  4. Don’t make assumptions about the opinions of others or how they identify. Kindly ask first and then actively listen.
  5. Make every effort not to judge, look down on or enter into competition with others.
  6. Be aware of the language you use in discussions and how this relates to others.
  7. Work together to foster a spirit of mutual respect: Listen to the wisdom everyone has to share.
  8. Be kind with your words. Give generously to allow everyone time and space to speak and share their thoughts and ideas.
  9. ‘Respect the person; challenge the behaviour.’
  10.  The rules still apply if you are under the influence of drugs and alcohol.