Artwork to take centre stage!

A piece of artwork created by one of our colleagues and the people she supports in Runcorn is set to be showcased in Runcorn’s Shopping City, after being awarded second place in the Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation trust art competition.

Jenny Wallace, a Support Worker at our Holmdale service in Runcorn, created the piece working collaboratively with the people she supports. Whilst Jenny physically drew the picture, she used visual participation techniques with the people she supports to create the image – talking through the picture with the individuals to decide what would be depicted and the colours that would be used.

The drawing was then entered into the Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust art competition – a competition across Halton, St Helens, Warrington and Wigan, that celebrates the creativity of adults and children with learning disabilities and autism – judged by senior practitioners from the trust and awarded second place in the over 18s category.

In the coming months, the picture is set to be enlarged and showcased in Runcorn’s Shopping City, in celebration of the achievement. The Holmdale service were also awarded a certificate and an e-voucher, which the team have decided to use to buy more craft materials for the people they support so that they can continue to express their creativity through art.

Jenny Wallace, Support Worker at Holmdale, said:

“I decided to enter the competition on behalf of the people I support, and I am so very proud that we not only achieved runner up but will now also have our art displayed in the Shopping City!

The picture we created represents the relationship between Support Worker and person supported. I believe that our role is very rewarding in many ways and the relationships that we develop can be on par with that of family. It is amazing that this image and everything it represents to us will now be shared with our local community.”

Michelle Carmon, Service Leader at Holmdale, said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded second place in the Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation trust art competition and really excited to see our piece be displayed in the Shopping City. To be a runner up for the award was a fantastic boost for our team but to also have it displayed in the local shopping centre is such an amazing feat.

I am incredibly proud of all that the team have achieved through the most difficult times. Jenny has really led on ensuring we are active in all art projects all with great successes. Jenny and the team have delivered outstanding person-centred care and support; despite all of the challenges they have faced during to the pandemic. As a manager, I have never been prouder.”