Profiles of particpants and organisations involved
(not in alphabetical order)
Profiles – being completed and updated as information arrives
Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold has toured and recorded with Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, T’Pau, The Cutting Crew and comedian Boothby
Graffoe, also playing accordion and hammond organ for local award-winning phenomenon The Brighton Beach Boys.
He is currently working with the creators of Stomp on their new production The Lost And Found Orchestra, preparing for a thirty show run at the Royal Festival Hall in December.
He has run music workshops for the Princes Trust, at Highdown Prison with bass legend Herbie Flowers, and the Orpheus Centre with Richard Stilgoe, working with offenders, young people and the disabled.
Aangikam Dance Academy with Mayura Patel
Mayura is the founder of the Academy. Her formal training in dance began at the age of 10, with initiation into dance by her mother, who has been a constant source of inspiration and her first guru was Guru Shri Kubernath Tanjorkar of Tanjore Gharana, Chennai who was an excellent dancer trained in Bharatanatyam. It is to him that Mayura owes her artistic and creative vision of expressions in her dance.
This was further harnessed with an insatiable intellectual and cerebral quest which she owes to her second Guru, Prof. C. V Chandrasekhar, a Padmashree Award winner, an excellent dancer, teacher and a choreographer in Bharat Natyam from Kalakshetra, Chennai.
Her Arangetram (first maiden performance) took place under the training and guidance from Prof C.V Chandrasekhar after undergoing Masters Degree training in Dance from the Performing Arts University, Vadodara, India in April 1984, an astonishing performance to achieve the degree of proficiency that Mayura did.
Taking full advantage of the Performing Arts University and M.S University, Vadodara Mayura studied B.Mus in dance and B.A (with Economics, Statistics & Psychology) simultaneously wholly inspired by her father, a profound musician in Harmonium and a teacher at Performing Arts University. She studied dance theory and dance history as a part of her dance training.
On completion of B.A. in Economics from M.S University, Vadodara her father further inspired her to continue her Masters Degree in Dance at a time when only one graduation was allowed by any University in the country.
Her youth spent at Vadodara was studded with frequent and noteworthy stage appearances. Mayura started working on her own, bringing together the gift from her Gurus, parents and her knowledge of the art creating new piece of work by incorporating the dance style of South paired with music of the North of India.
She harnessed to it a spiritual approach and divine vision in order to develop a wholly individualistic philosophy of traditional dance movements of classical style and valuing Diversity also teaches the modern movements of Bollywood style and traditional folk dances of India.
Her body movements are lubricative thus creating a language of communication with her astounding facial expressions.
Mayura’s vision of dance as a totality can be seen as a continuing tradition of this art form to promote cultural and spiritual values to the future generation through Aangikam Dance Akademi launched by her in Croydon, United Kingdom.
Weblink: www.aangikam.info
Dr Glenn Cornish,
I am Dr Glenn Cornish and I am a psychiatrist for working age adults in Epsom and Mole Valley. As well as my clinical work, I undertake training of junior doctors and others, chair a committee and am one of the Foundation Trust Governors. Outside work, I am a father of three children, garden in both English and Japanese styles and learn karate. Since my teenage years I have experienced episodes of severe depression. Through my work, psychotherapy and help from many around me, I have developed some understanding of my illness, where it comes from, and what to do about it. However, it still lays me low from time to time.
The talk will cover some of Dr Cornish’s experiences of depressive iillness from a personal point of view, and from the point of view of delivering care to others. He will talk about our society's view of mental illness, and how mental health services treat people. He will touch on what modern theories of depressive illness might tell us about depression and will finish by saying what he thinks mental health services can and cannot do for people who are depressed and unhappy, and what people can do for themselves to reach their maximum happiness and contentment. Following the talk, he will welcome comments, experiences or questions in writing which he will read out, and answer if possible.
Chris Grayling MP
Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell
Chris has been MP for Epsom and Ewell since the 2001 General Election and has become an active local MP, involved in several important campaigns including the battle to secure the future of Epsom Hospital. He is also Chairman of Epsom and District Victim Support, President of the Ewell and Stoneleigh Chamber of Trade and a member of Epsom Rotary. He lives in the constituency with his wife Sue and their two children.
Chris has been a member of the Shadow Cabinet since the General Election in May 2005, serving as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons under Michael Howard, and then Shadow Secretary of State for Transport under David Cameron. Since July 2007, he has been Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. In the last Parliament, he served as Shadow Higher and Further Education Minister and was also Conservative spokesman on Nutrition, Obesity and Complimentary Healthcare. Prior to that he spent a brief period in the Opposition Whip's Office. For his first eighteen months at Westminster, he was also a member of the influential Transport Select Committee.
Born in 1962, Chris grew up in Buckinghamshire. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe before going to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, to read history. After university, he joined the BBC's News Training Scheme, and worked as a producer on BBC News and Channel Four's programme Business Daily.
After a few years in television production, he decided to move to the business side of the media industry, and ran a number of small and medium-sized production businesses before moving to become a director in the Employee Communication practice at international communications firm Burson Marsteller. He ended his time there as the firm's European Marketing Director.
Chris has written several books, including a history of the Bridgwater Canal, Anglo-American relations, and life in England after the First World War. For relaxation, he enjoys antiques, travel, and watching cricket when he has the chance.Chris first became active in local politics when living in Wimbledon, South London, and became both an officer in the Wimbledon Conservative Association and a Conservative councillor on the London Borough of Merton. He fought the marginal seat of Warrington South in the 1997 general election.
Dr Raja Mukherjee
Dr Raja Mukherjee is a Consultant Psychiatrist for people with Learning Disabilities at Surrey and Borders Partnership Trust with a specialist interest in neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr Mukherjee completed his Medical Training in 1996 at St George’s Hospital Medical School (now St George’s University of London) and has practiced as a doctor ever since. Dr Mukherjee commenced Psychiatric training in 1998. He is currently a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and section 12.2 approved under the 1983 Mental Health Act. He was appointed to his current post as a locum in July 2006 before being made substantive in October 2006.
His interest in fetal alcohol syndrome began over seven years ago. Subsequent to this he has become one of the few people in the UK who specialise in working with children and adults with this condition.
Dr Mukherjee has published numerous peer reviewed journal articles on the subject of fetal alcohol syndrome in journals such as the BMJ, Lancet, and the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. He continues to research the diagnostic overlaps between fetal alcohol syndrome as a cause of other neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Dr Mukherjee has given lectures both regionally, nationally and internationally on the subject of fetal alcohol syndrome and was invited to become a member of the NO FAS-UK medical advisory panel made up of national and international experts. Through this, he was invited to give evidence to the Department of Health, The BMA board of science and to a committee held at the House of Lords on the subject of fetal alcohol syndrome.
Anona Coates
Anona Coates, wife of Christian leader Gerald, lives in Surrey. As well as bringing up three sons, she has had a varied career, including interior design, sales and marketing, and doctor’s receptionist.
Suntrap – Folk Group
If you want performance ranging from sweet melancholy to out and out power; if you want to be wooed, thrilled, moved and above all entertained then you must see this band!
Featuring some of England’s strongest young singers, Suntrap will dazzle you with their big harmony sound. Sometimes spiky edged, sometimes achingly beautiful. Their material ranges from the richly textured to stripped back solo a cappella.
This is handcrafted music played by a double fiddle section, guitars, accordion, bohdran, whistles and harmonica, carefully woven around shimmering, slipsliding vocal harmonies.
Suntrap perform a mesmerizing array of music including their own material and the best of the traditional and contemporary folk repertoire. The songwriters (Sara Byers and Paul Hoad) create original, innovative works drawing on English song tradition and American Folk & Country.
Suntrap play all over the UK and Europe at major folk festivals, folk clubs and arts centres. When not headlining, Suntrap have supported such major artists as Kate Rusby, Kathryn Tickell, Waterson Carthy, The Albion Band, The Oyster Band and Vin Garbett. Suntrap have been privileged to open Cambridge Folk Festival, Skagen Folk Festival and Warwick Folk Festival. Radio features have included the Mike Harding Show and a live performance on Radio 4’s Loose Ends.
Sara Byers - Voice, Accordion, Guitar, Whistles, Bohdran
Debbie Chalmers - Violin, Viola
Paul Hoad - Voice, Guitar, Harmonica
Mary Wilson - Voice, Violin
Jessica Agudelo, Community Development Worker
Jessica Agudelo works as a Community Development Worker for Southside Partnership at HMP Downview and HMP High Down. This role was developed to promote a Community Engagement approach as defined by Delivering Race Equality (DRE, 2005) and is funded by Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Trust.
The Community Development Programme started as a 12 month part-time pilot in April 2007, specifically looking to improve mental health and well-being of black minority ethnic and foreign national prisoners with mental health needs. As a result of its success, two Community Development Workers were appointed to work across Surrey prisons.
Jessica has worked within Southside’s Prison Team since 2005 providing resettlement support and advocating on behalf of offenders with mental health needs across prisons in London and the South East.
Jessica has a Masters in Health Psychology and assisted on a clinical research project looking at the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress in 2001 as part of the Camden & Islington Mental Health Trust. She currently facilitates focus groups and delivers self-esteem and personal development workshops on a voluntary basis to young people and adults from disadvantaged Spanish speaking communities in London as part of the Telefono de la Esperanza (Telephone of Hope) Foundation.
The Southside Prison Project: Background
The Southside Prison Project works with offenders and ex-offenders with mental health needs to provide an outreach service giving emotional and practical support whilst in prison and after release. This support helps to ensure prisoners do not slip through gaps in services, and receive support they need for successful resettlement. The project currently works in 12 prisons across 33 boroughs in London and the South East.
The Community Development Programme came in recognition of the need to focus more explicitly on promoting community engagement to improve mental health and general well-being of BME and FN prisoners across Surrey Prisons.
The programme aims to build an understanding of the needs of BME and FN prisoners with mental health needs amongst prison staff and services, and to identify and support local BME and FN communities to improve the stigmatisation, isolation and exclusion experienced.
Underpinned by Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health (DRE, 2005), with a pivotal role in supporting the three ‘building blocks’ of:
• More appropriate and responsive services
• Community Engagement
• Better Information
Love Me Love My Mind
Love Me Love My Mind is a local registered Charity, number 1125595.
It began in September 2006 when a drop in was started at St Barnabas Church, Temple Road, Epsom, specifically for people with mental health issues but open to all.
Since then the organisation’s work has expanded and its main aims include:
• holding periodic conferences and seminars which bring together users, carers and workers, faith group leaders and others concerned with the provision of mental health and learning disability, to break down barriers and to work together for improved care for people with a mental illness, learning disability, carers, and anybody going through a time of emotional or mental distress.
• holding the drop in on Monday evenings, specifically for people with mental health issues but open to all . It begins at 4pm with coffee and cake, games and chat. There is always a home cooked meal and usually some activity run by outside speakers – line dancing, quiz, art etc. before the drop in closes at 7pm. People are free to come and go as they please. Average attendance is between 18 – 25 people.
• The education of the general public on how mental health and learning disability issues affect communities, including working towards the first Mental Health Awareness Week in Epsom in October 2008.
Cracking Up! Comedy Reaches the Men Other Methods Cannot Reach
See Programme for details of this show and here is the backgroud to it:
Project Aims
•To normalise peoples’ experience of mental health problems and help reduce stigma.
•To target men with information and support around stress and mental well-being issues, through the popular method of stand up comedy. (Given that: men are “hard to reach” with traditional health methods as they tend to visit health services less than women; stress and mental health problems are on the rise; and men are a high risk group for suicide). By not mentioning the male target group explicity in publicity, the influence of women on mens’ health could also be harnessed.
•To bring people with experience of mental health problems (as performers and contributors of material to the show), into contact with members of the public. Social contact has been shown to be an effective way of reducing stigma .
Objectives
• Explore local men’s knowledge of, attitudes towards and coping strategies for: stress, mental well being, and seeking help when they experience problems-including barriers and suggestions for what would make them more likely to access services (by running discussion groups)
• Increase awareness of mental health protective factors and sources of help/support (by incorporating information in the script and having local service booklets at the shows)
• Encourage men to be more accepting of and to access help/support
• Provide opportunities for local service users to contribute material to the show
Method
• Discussion sessions were run with different demographic groups of men around Surrey to inform development of the comedy and sketch scripts and help ensure their relevance to local men (60 men from different demographic groups took part from around the county: firemen, construction students, long term unemployed, users of mental health services)
• Contacts and negotiations were made to tour the show around theatres in Surrey (Epsom, Guildford and Redhill) and Woking Football Club (to reach men who are not theatre goers)
• Eye-catching posters and beer mats were developed to advertise the show in venues attended by men (eg workplaces, pubs, sports clubs, betting shops, working men’s clubs)
• A DVD will be made to ensure sustainability and enable the show to reach a wider audience.
The Artists Working on This Project
• John Ryan - professional stand up comedian and ex social worker. His show Hurt Til It Laughs show on men’s health, was the surprise hit at the Leicester Comedy Festival and was nationally acclaimed. He has also run workshops and developed shows about fatherhood and young people’s mental health.
• Gareth Berliner -a stand up comedian with experience of chronic health problems and suicide.
• Box Clever Theatre Company- sketches written by Michael Wicherek, performed by co. actors
• Clients of local mental health services contributed poetry and artwork to the show.
Evidence From Other Projects With Men That Such Approaches Work
• Successful health projects with men find that going out to them enables services to engage men
• Humour is a good way to connect with people about sensitive topics such as mental health. The Leicester men’s health project showed audiences engaged with the comedians, related more to the performance and felt the issues stayed with them long after the show .
• Creative expression plays an important role in recovery from mental distress by improving communication skills, providing ways for people to express themselves, stimulating creative skills and enhancing self esteem .
• Community art projects can help reverse the worrying trend of decreasing communal activities and ‘social capital’ and provide opportunities for social inclusion.
References
1. Reducing psychiatric stigma and discrimination. Pinfold V, Huxley P, Thornicroft G, Farmer P, Toulmin H, Graham T. Social Psychiatry Psychiatric Epidemiology (2003) 38: 337-344
2. Boys’ and Young Men’s Health – What works? Trefor Lloyd (Working with Men) on behalf of the Health Development Agency (2002)
3. Hurt Till it Laughs – Men’s Comedy Health Project – Leicester Comedy Festival, Phoenix Arts. Evaluation Report by Jackson Consultancy.
4. Mental Health Foundation (2004) Factsheet: Arts Therapies, Creativity and Mental Health
5. Scaricoff R L (2004) Arts in health: a review of the medical literature. Arts Council England Research Report
6. White, M (2004) Arts in mental health for social inclusion: towards a framework for programme evaluation. In: Cowling, J, editor For Art’s Sake: Society and the Arts in the 21st Century. London: institute of Public Policy Research, 2004.
Project Manager: Maya Twardzicki – Senior Health Promotion Specialist (Mental Health)
Surrey Primary Care Trust
Contact Details: Maya.Twardzicki@surreypct.nhs.uk
Office: 01372 201573
Mobile 07729 018264
Tom Rhind-Tutt
Tom Rhind-Tutt is Chairman of The Ebbisham Association, 21 Sunny Bank, Epsom, Surrey, KT 18 7DYTom was born is Woodbridge in Suffolk and attended Woodbridge Grammar School. After a long illness and time spent on National Service Tom Joined The Imperial Life Assurance Company of Canada where he served for 51 years and was for many years Agency Secretary. He was responsible for National and International Conferences for 25 years and was affectionately known as ‘ Mr Convention’.
He founded and developed the Company ‘ Retirement Programme’ which later embraced Redundancy and Relationship Counselling. On being made redundant he set up his own Retirement and Counselling business under the name Woodcote Consultants providing retirement and personal counselling. Five years later the international Actuaries Bacon & Woodrow invited Tom to move his business into their organisation and head up a new service for their clients.
Tom has always been active in the community and founded HELM – Horton – Ebbas – Longrove - Manor – and together with the Borough of Epsom & Ewell and Rosebery Housing Association was active in the discussions about the new housing estates being built on the former hospital sites. He also developed a Friendship Scheme for the learning disabled. In 2001 HELM was wound up and The Ebbisham Association, a Registered Charity, was founded to continue the HELM aims but on a much larger scale. Today the Association has 80 volunteers and makes a significant contribution to the lives of the learning disabled in the area.
Over the years Tom has been active in a number of local Churches and is currently on the staff of St John’s Stoneleigh. He leads the Community Church of the Good Shepherd which meets in Ethel Bailey Close, Manor Park.
Sheila Hollins
Sheila Hollins is Professor of Psychiatry of Learning Disability in the Academic Division of Mental Health at St. George’s, University of London. Until she retired from clinical practice in 2006, she had been a Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disability in South West London for 25 years.
After qualifying in Medicine she worked as a GP for a number of years, before training in psychiatry. She has always been interested in people’s physical health as well as their mental health. She has worked at the Department of Health London as a senior policy advisor, and was President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists for 3 years until July 2008, where she argued for more money for mental health and learning disability services.
She is the author of ‘Books Beyond Words- a series of picture books for people with learning disabilities on subjects such as going to the doctor or to hospital, bereavement, and lifestyle topics. They provide information but are also a useful counselling resource.
She edits a website for health professionals, which provides information about health and learning disability (www.intellectualdisability.info).
Andy Smith
Andy Smith, Head of Acting at the Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, has worked internationally as a Director, Performer and Teacher of theatre He regularly gives Master Classes at nearly all of the major London Drama Schools. He is passionately committed to the philosophy of inclusivity in the arts and sits on various advisory panels focusing on the development of access and participation for those with disabilities. Andy is a champion for new and original writing for Theatre and has seen the instigation of New Writing initiatives at theatre venues all over the UK.
Laine Theatre Arts
Laine Theatre Arts was established in 1974 in the Surrey Town of Epsom, just half an hour from London's Lively West End and is recognised as being one of the leading international training colleges for performing arts. The College aims to provide the broadest possible training, giving each student individual attention, enabling them to graduate with professional confidence secure in the knowledge that they are prepared for whatever the industry has to offer.
LTA graduates star in major roles in many West End and touring musicals and stage productions throughout the world. They also achieve great successes in the music, film and television industries.
www.laine-theatre-arts.co.uk/main.html
Kathy Maskens
My name is Kathy Maskens and I live here in Epsom. I am qualified as a Senior Registered Dance Movement Therapist with the Association for Dance Movement Therapy. I have a Masters Degree in Dance Movement Therapy and in 1991 after training at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance I worked for 9 years at Springfield hospital in Tooting running Dance Movement Therapy sessions for adults suffering from both acute and enduring mental illness. In 2000 I left Springfield and since then have been working in a voluntary capacity mostly with children in schools. Dance Movement Therapy is a form of therapy that enables people to use their whole being to express and explore emotions and any difficult issues that may be playing on their minds. Patients have called it emotion through motion which I believe describes it perfectly. If you find that this whets your appetite please come and try it out on Thursday 9th October.
Evergreen Drama Group and Bloomin'arts
Bloomin'arts is a performance arts company run by and for adults who have learning disabilities. We are based in East Surrey area running drama workshops in acting skills, backstage production, performance and theatre trips. Bloomin'arts grew out of drama workshops instigated in East Surrey by the MENCAP leisure development project ten years ago. In 2006 we affiliated with East Surrey MENCAP. Our productions are developed in weekly workshops by the participants themselves with the assistance of professional artists. See http://web.mac.com/bloomin2/Site/Welcome.html
In 2002, Bloomin'arts formed Evergreen, as small touring company which has been performing in a variety of establishments and small theatrical venues across the South East. They have produced work from Shakespeare, Molliere and Goldini and are available to give workshops in drama to schools, social groups and conferences. For more information contact: 07956354365 or write to them at bloomin'arts@fsmail.net.
In association with Bloomin'arts, a film has been written and produced and is being screened on Friday 3 October 2008 at the 16th Raindance Film Fesitval at Cineworld, Shaftesbury Avenue. 'Love and Kisses", A Comedy Drama, is a simple talke of young love... Danny Eves is a charming, fun-loving young man who meets and falls in love with Kathy Adams, a quiet shrinking violet. Danny loves pizza. Kathy is watching her waistline. They say opposites attract but there are two things they have in common: their love for each other and Down's Syndrome. Love and Kisses is being screened as part of the "Shorts Programme 3". There are five other fine films included in the programme. For more details visit www.raindance.co.uk or http://web.mac.com/bloomin2
Fiona Edwards, Chief Executive of Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Background and Experience: Appointed to post in April 2005 and Chief Executive-designate since November 2004. For the previous four years Fiona was Chief Executive of Surrey Hampshire Borders NHS Trust.
Her Health Service career began in 1994 at West Berkshire Priority Care Services NHS Trust where she was Executive Director responsible for Human Resources and major change programmes. Private sector career spanned 10 years within the manufacturing sector as a Human Resources professional (within the Allied Lyons Group) and latterly Director of Human Resources for a medium sized manufacturing company (ACCO Rexel Ltd).
Qualifications: MA in English (St Andrews) and post graduate professional qualifications in Personnel Management. INSEAD Advanced General Management.
The Samaritans
Samaritans is a national charity and the co-ordinating body for the 202 Samaritans branches in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, each of which is an independent charitable organisation. This includes 2 “non-brick” branches (Festival and Correspondence). The branches are organised and work together in 13 geographic regions to offer emotional support to callers .
Samaritans provides completely confidential emotional support 24 hours a day by telephone, personal visit, email, and letter, through its branch network – support that includes outreach activity at festivals and outside our centres in prisons, hospitals, schools, the workplace and with homeless people. Our purpose is to:
* enable persons who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those who may be at risk of suicide, to receive confidential emotional support at any time of the day or night from appropriately trained Samaritans in order to improve their emotional health and to reduce the incidence of suicide; and
* promote a better understanding in society of suicide, suicidal behaviour and the value of expressing feelings which may otherwise lead to suicide or impaired emotional health.
The Brickfield Centre
The Brickfield Centre is the community base for the Epsom, Ewell and Banstead Primary Care Mental Health Team. We are based in Portland Place, Epsom, KT17 1DL where in addition to referred clients being seen individually by a team of mental health professionals, we also operate a groupwork and community connections programme.
On Friday 10 October 2008 we will be having an open afternoon where you are able to call in and have a chat with both service users and members of the team and find out what we do.
There will also be an exhibition of the history of mental health services in the Epsom Area to look at, and tea and biscuits will be available.
Alexandra Payne
Alexandra Payne is an Integrative Psychotherapist with experience of working with children, young people and adults. She trained at the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education and her qualifications include an MA in Integrative Child Psychotherapy and a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. Alex has experience working with children and young people in schools in South London and Surrey as well as working therapeutically with parents and carers and with other adults. She is currently working in private practice in Surrey.
Epsom & Ewell Islamic Society
Epsom and Ewell Islamic Society, [EEiS] was formed in the summer of 1997 and obtained its charity status, in 1999.
They have well over one hundred members and are governed by our constitution. The society objectives are:
(a) To advance religion in accordance with tenets and doctrines of Islam.
(b) To provide and assist in the provision of education in the field of Islamic culture, history and practice.
(c) To foster goodwill and harmonious relations with other ethnic and faith groups.
With the guidance of Allah, the cooperation of its members, and the regular donation from its members and non members, they have established the following:
Five daily salaat
Madraasah for children
Adult Arabic classes for brothers and sisters
A weekly lecture
Monthly ladies circle
Taraweeh & Eid prayers
In addition they have appointed a resident Imam who work's closely with the local borough council and has close links with the local Christian faith organisation & local police.
They have also acquired Muslim burial plots in the Epsom cemetery.
Rebecca Owen: Continuing Needs Sevice- Mid Surrey
The Continuing Needs Service is based at Farmside, Horton Lane, Epsom, KT19 8PB. It provides a dedicated rehabilitation service for people with long term psychosis and enduring disabilities. It comprises two community teams: the Rehabilitation and Recovery Team and the Assertive Outreach Team. Telephone: 01372 206200
Laura Collins
Laura Collins is a passionate artist, writer, poet, and sometime bongo player.
Through her work Collins attempts to invoke a re-telling of the human condition. She describes the joy, terror, and other feelings or emotions associated with being and existence.She is thoughtful of the move through time, in rememberance of the past and in imagining for the future. Whilst at the same time having an intimate awareness of her own frail mortality. Her work has been described as having the capacity to make us all think. And though her subjects often have a disquietening undercurrent, more recent work has adopted a lighter perhaps more hopefull quality.
While sometimes described as bleak, her representations are clouded by a life in which she has faced much personal sadness and trauma. ”I would like to be surprised but the depths that people are able to go in the capacity for evil will continue to appall me. And that it goes unnoticed, or by fear we become less challenged to speak or act when we see something intrinsically wrong, is more than a sadness to me and should be to others. The isolation that many people live in today is a very sad indictment of the insular turn that our society has taken. My work questions beliefs; I look at the moral codes which define philosophy, religion, the individual conscience, and society I believe there are questions that need to be addressed. And that in some way we can all have a voice. Whether it is heard or not is another question”
“We have, to a superlative degree, amongst all living things, such a vast capacity for empathy, kindness, creation and hope.The irony is that capacity is known as "humanity". It seems today that sometimes we are allowing that capacity, our humanity to pass by us un-noticed.”
While eternally hopeful, Collins’ attempt to portray and understand her own pain can be obscured by the label that she is a “damaged woman”. But she is unflinching that the subjects she has and continues to discuss encompass both genders. “Why am I here?” is a question asked by both man and woman. She is not afraid to admit to not having the answers and does not see that as a shortcoming. Her hope is that we involve ourselves and look, with care and grace - as to how we can all make or try to make, a difference.
Laura Collins has an undeniable strength and an amazing capacity for understanding and compassion, a dry sense of humour. And is a testimony to the “ “still here!” Survivors Guide to the Universe!”
After her reading Laura will welcome comments or questions. If any could be presented in writing she will doubtless find some way to incorporate them within her ongoing commentary of work .
Espom Counselling Service and Tracey Pennington
Epsom Counselling Service (ECS) at the Epsom Methodist Church commenced in 1999 and, with it’s aim to provide low cost, easily accessible counselling in a confidential and safe environment, provides an important service to local communities in and around Epsom.
During 2007/8 the church benefited from a major refurbishment and rebuild. Consequently the counselling service, following a year of upheaval, is now able to provide a more significant and broader service to the town of Epsom, and it’s surrounding communities.
The counselling service now offers a wider range of therapeutic choices; supportive and psychotherapeutic individual counselling as well as couples counselling are at the formal end of the spectrum.
Whilst for those people who want to further develop their understanding of self and others, but not wishing to commit fully into a formal counselling relationship, the service offers a (psychologically minded) book club as well as a varied range of workshops, seminars and lectures.
For qualified and ’in training’ counsellors the service offers peer supervision/support groups, lectures, seminars and workshops toward continuing professional development, offering affordable support within a professional environment.
The counselling team are led by experienced, qualified, professional practitioners who are accredited members of the UK’s leading counselling regulatory body, the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP).
The team members are qualified or are in their last years of training on a BACP accredited training course, leading to either an advanced diploma or degree in Integrative counselling. The Epsom Counselling service is proud to have retained it’s strong links with the counselling faculty at Kingston College, a leading counsellor training establishment in the South East. All team members are regularly supervised by experienced, senior supervisors.
Seminars, lectures and workshops are run either ‘in house’ or by invited guest speakers, practitioners and health professionals.
Where do our clients come from?
Clients have to contact us themselves to book a consultation. Clients hear about us from:
• GPs
• psychiatric teams
• social services
• voluntary organisations
• friends
The reason for client consultations varies but includes:
• stress
• problems in relationships
• anxiety
• depression
• work related problems
In order to make an appointment to see a counsellor please contact: Tracey Pennington 0771 934 6657, e-mail online@tpenningtoncounselling.co.uk or via the Church 01372 728 535 (office hours).
www.epsomcounsellingservice.co.uk
Tracey Pennington is an accredited member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. Following a five year training in Counselling and Psychotherapy, she has been working as a counsellor for five years.
She is a mother and has two teenage children, living in a community neighbouring Epsom. Tracey has been head of the counselling service at Epsom Methodist Church for the past twelve months, having been a team member for the previous three years.
Tracey runs her own successful private practice as a psychotherapeutic counsellor. www.tpenningtoncounselling.co.uk
KAG Advocacy and Jane Saddler
Jane Saddler's life has equipped her with a knowledge and understanding that enables her to be of positive help to others as an Advocate. Having lived through traumatic times with her own children whilst juggling financial and work responsibilites, accusations of child abuse and a stay in a psychiatric hospital, Jane became a trustee of a National Children’s Charity. She gave a speech about her family’s trauma in the Moses Room, which is a hall joining the House of Lords to the House of Commons, spoke at the Social Services Conference in Blackpool and became very involved in training with the NSPCC.
Jane has turned her life experiences into advantages and started working for Age Concern’s Advocacy Service and then took a year out to help set up an Advocacy Charity supporting vulnerable people who cannot manage their finances. After that she became involved in a short term project with Advocacy Partners. It was then that she was told about a vacancy with KAG Advocacy.
KAG Advocacy (KAG) is a not-for-profit charity, established in 1988 to help vulnerable people have a say in decisions that affect them, and how they live their lives. They do this by providing independent advocacy support to individuals at no direct cost to them. Advocacy is provided by their specialist employed staff and trained volunteers.
Everybody should have a say in how their lives are run, whatever their abilities and circumstances. However, not everybody is able to express their views and make clear their needs for a variety of reasons.
KAG has specific programs of services available to help. Their our services are operated and governed by our core beliefs- social justice, self determination and commitment to the individual. They listen to our clients, understand their needs, ensure they are aware of their rights and provide relevant information. Finally, they support them in speaking up for themselves (self advocacy) or where this is not possible, speak for them (advocacy). Web link to KAG Advocacy: http://www.kag.org.uk/kagservices.php.
Jane's colleague Pamela Cannings provides inpatient advocacy support at the Langley Suite in Epsom and Jane Saddler provides the same service in the community. What do they do? Anything that people would do for themselves if they are well enough. Jane's work includes supporting people through criminal justice proceedings and tribunals, housing issues, finance, representing people’s wishes concerning their mental or physical health. You name it – she does it !
KAG Advocacy also holds the IMCA contracts in Kingston, Richmond and East Surrey. Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (Jane is one of them) are appointed to provide additional safeguards for people who lack capacity to make decisions and have no appropriate family and friends who can be involved in the process. They are independent of the teams making the decisions and represent the person’s wishes, feelings, values and beliefs, ensuring that these are considered in the decision making process.
Work Stress Solutions
Work Stress Solutions is a not for profit community organisation offering therapy, training and work experience for vulnerable people to enable them to return to work.
We are service user led and rely on volunteer support and involvement
web link: www.workstresssolutions.co.uk
email: enquiries@workstresssolutions.co.uk or Tel: 08709 196601 (local rate)