The Garage Art Group

We are Garage Art Group, a small charity based in Evesham in Worcestershire. We provide therapeutic art sessions in Evesham for a wide variety of individuals in the community who have physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or mental health issues. There is a well-established link between physical disability and an increased risk of social isolation, and the same also holds true for those with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Isolation can often be a vicious cycle that is very difficult to escape: as loneliness sets in, both mental and physical health begin to decline, and it becomes harder and harder to reach out to people and ask for help. As anyone who has ever been caught in this trap will say, it is extremely difficult to return to normality without support from others. That is where the Garage Art Group comes in.By providing an inclusive and non-judgmental community where people can come to paint and draw, we provide a place where vulnerable people can re-connect with others without fear of rejection for who they are, giving them the opportunity to begin to rebuild their self-esteem, confidence and social support network. Surrounded by like-minded people and engaging in creative and empowering activities, our beneficiaries begin to see life in a more positive light. For many of our members, our art sessions are a crucial element of stability in their lives, and a place that they can rely on to remain connected with other people. Garage Art Group began its life in 1991 as a single weekly session, run in a private garage (hence the name) by founders Brenda Staines and Jan Evans, with only five students attending. We incorporated as a charity in 1998, and have grown and expanded considerably since. Today, we attract over eighty members per year from across Worcestershire, and take referrals from a range of partners, including Waterside Psychiatric Day Hospital, Evesham Community Hospital and Gloucester’s “Let’s Talk” mental health service. As a charitable organisation, are able to offer our art therapy at a very subsidised rate. We believe that everyone, regardless of means, should be able to access the benefits of art therapy and to live a more rewarding, independent and fulfilling life.