Trinity Winchester is a Hampshire based charity that provides practical and emotional support to people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. We operate both a Drop-In day service, and a Women’s Service, from our base at Bradbury House in Winchester.
The Trinity Art Group has been running since 2001, providing a space and artist led workshops for service users and learners to explore all things creative.
The workshops act
as a positive conduit for creative expression, confidence building, social
interaction and inclusion as well as a stepping stone to further / higher
education and working opportunities. Learners are encouraged to work towards an NCFE qualification.
Due
to visual art’s non-hierarchal nature, learners of all abilities are able to
tap into this service, indeed, the service users come from diverse backgrounds
and equally have a varied range of ability and skills.
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| Lucy drawing a picture of the art teacher |
The learners are encouraged to look at
artists and art movements. The programme introduces learners to a broad range
of visual art skills from drawing, painting, mono-printing, ceramics, 3D
design, collage and computer art, with emphasis on analysing and developing
creative, critical and communicative skills.
The course is broken down into eight weekly
sessions, with a comprehensive review at the end of each period.
The Trinity Art Group continue to make links with the wider community and occassionally organise, when funding is available, exhibitions and creative events.
The latest of which was supported by the art gallery Pop Ateiler on Stockbridge Road, Winchester - for a month long exhibition of small works on paper in December 2012.
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| In memory of Bridget Pickett who sadly passed away, her brilliant "Green Man" |
This engagement helps the group with an insight into aspects of organising a
professional event and provides an opportunity to feel that they have
contributed to the community. These shows are well received, with articles in
the local press and a large number of people viewing.
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| Nada's Plastercine model of The Yellow Submarine |
Back in 2003 the Trinity Art
Group Exhibition was featured on Meridian Television News. For the group, this
acts as a powerful acknowledgement from the wider community.
Since
the art programme began, a large number of service users have benefited from
access to the workshops. Most noticeable
is a marked rise in confidence levels, which in turn motivated many of the
learners to seek employment. The learners are helped to develop a portfolio of
work, which can act as evidence of achievement and as a means of moving onto a
further or higher education. A number of learners have moved successfully onto
courses and then into work; notably one learner who was homeless, but with
support, managed to find housing and put together a portfolio, securing a place
on a Degree course at Southampton University.
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| Peter drawing a view of Wolvesey Castle |
The
Art Group has another benefit, one that might not be readily noticeable to the
causal onlooker, that of having a strong emotional and motivational support
infrastructure. The art group members have over time developed a communal
respect for each other. This is very important when one considers that many of
the service users experience isolation. The art group gives them a chance to
socially interact and support each other into gaining working opportunities.
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| Maggie Cluskey's "Marilyn 1" |
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| Maggie Cluskey's "Marilyn 2" |
Trinity Slideshow Gallery
The Trinity Art Group is supported by
Trinity Winchester as part of their education program.
