LOST – a well-being project for women in Calderdale supported by The National Lottery Communities Fund

This new project has been led by Sharon Marsden, verd de gris arts founder and lead project worker.

LOST has given Sharon time and space to try new ideas and ways of working that will feed into the company’s methodology. It is important for all us at verd de gris arts that Sharon still delivers this type of sessional work, as there is still so much to uncover – particularly working with women living with trauma – there are conditions that need new, creative ways of thinking, planning and responding.

Project referrals came from a number of sources – company mailing list, local support agencies and third sector organisations, and work of mouth from women who had experienced verd de gris arts’ work themselves. Recruitment resulted in an interesting, and diverse groups of women – some of whom had not worked, some had held positions of trust and responsibility. As always, it is how these women come to grow together as a group that is the most impactful outcome – how women from very different background and life experiences develop deep levels of trust and compassion for each other … helping one another ‘heal’.

“The biggest thing for me as the key deliverer of this project is the positive response from some of the new referrals we have been getting. Because of the work we did last year on the NO SHIELDS project, in building up that relationship and bond of trust with Katie Whitworth, Positive Choices 2 Support Worker, Family Intervention Team, 2 x young women have joined this new cohort and are making extraordinary advances in their mental and emotional well-being – the only reason they came to the project is because the project worker has witnessed firsthand how effective this way of working has been for vulnerable young women.

We have also been able to support a number of women whose English speaking / writing skills are not strong – but we have been able to source an interpreter to help support us on the project, and this has helped them feel included and part of the group work. This happened via word of mouth … which then brought other women into related projects (BEHIND THE MASK).” Sharon Marsden