The Community Wellbeing Fund is run by Staffordshire County Council’s Social Care and Health Directorate.  The overall aim of the scheme is to improve the health, independence and wellbeing of older people and vulnerable adults. 

Small community groups, clubs and organisations can apply for funding to undertake a range of activities, including arts-based work, as long as the activity addresses one or more health and wellbeing outcomes (with a focus on prevention).

There are two levels of funding available: up to £1000 and up to £10,000.  The closing date is 30^th November.  The full details about the scheme can be found here. 

praXis is working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to support groups who want to develop applications with a creative focus.  Laura Hickman (an artist who is currently working with Staffordshire Arts and Museums Team on the development of the Creative Remedies website) is therefore going to be in attendance at three workshops aimed at potential applicants to the scheme. She will be on hand to talk about the value of the arts in meeting health and wellbeing outcomes, inspire people with examples of work and case studies, and will also be running a taster workshop for people to ‘have a go’.

The workshops will be held from 4-7pm on:

15^th September 2010 at Codsall Village Hall (South Staffordshire)

16th September 2010 at Cobridge Community Centre (Newcastle / Staffs Moorlands)

20^th September 2010 at St. Michaels Church Hall (Lichfield)

The events are an opportunity for groups to receive information and support about the Community Wellbeing Fund, as well as alternative funding information and advice.

If you represent a small community group and would like to know more about how you could use creative interventions to meet your health and wellbeing needs, come along to one of the workshops.  One to one appointments (pre-book in advance) are also available for practical advice on how to complete application forms; organisational support on constitutions, bank accounts or governance arrangements.

To book one of these appointments or for further information about the scheme generally, contact Shelley Davis, Health Development Officer on 01785 278279 or email shelley.davis@staffordshire.gov.uk

Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council are looking for an artist or artists, to respond to the brief of creating a design for the windows of the new Health and Wellbeing Centre which is due to be built on Brunswick Street in Newcastle and completed in December 2011.

The designs will be transferred to vinyl and applied to the glass -  up to a total area of c100m (see elevation – the areas shaded in grey are those relating to the commission).

The artist/s are expected to produce a design in response to the building, its function, the area and the town itself making a unique and contemporary statement.

The budget for the design commission is up to £10k.

To express your interest and to receive more in depth information about the project you are strongly recommended to attend a visionary meeting on Friday 30^th July at 10am at Newcastle Borough Council Civic Offices, Merrial St, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 2AG

To confirm your attendance at the meeting or for further information please contact Delyth Copp or Teresa Mason on:

T: 01782 619 705

Email: nulmuseum@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk

Provisional deadline for draft design: October 31st  2010

The SP8 of the Art Foundation has been established to commemorate the brief life of Mark Speight, highly popular children’s television presenter of such programmes as BBC’s SMart and SMarteenies.  Mark was passionate about encouraging children’s artistic potential and so the Foundation (set up by his father Oliver) seeks to continue his legacy by fulfilling two aims:

• To seek out future artistic skills and talent in children aged between 4 and 18, in all its various forms including portraiture, landscape, fashion design, architecture, graphic design, sculpture and modern art.
• To promote and encourage the involvement of all young people in art (as defined above) as a means of self expression; contributing to personal and community development.

The Foundation is administered from Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire.  Regional Co-ordinators all over the UK are responsive to the specific needs of their region, co-ordinate teams of volunteers and initiate and implement projects in partnership with schools, councils, voluntary and private organisations.

The Foundation is developing a range of arts and health work, including a national ‘Prize your Eyes’ competition to help in the prevention of eye injuries for children, which was dreamed up by Professor Peter Shah, a leading Ophthalmic surgeon in the West Midlands. This is being promoted via the NHS and Local Education Authorities. They are also keen to bring artistic and cultural experience to children’s wards in hospitals, beginning in the West Midlands, as Mark was Junior President of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and worked with Guys Hospital and the Brain and Spine Foundation.. 

SP8 of the Art explores a variety of ways to encourage children to get involved in artistic pursuits, including resource art packs for after school clubs; setting up and running art workshops for children of all ages; promoting and exhibiting children’s art work in public areas; and working with art galleries to develop their ‘child friendliness’. 

It is developing a team of specialist creatives/tutors who can be contacted for information and advice on their area of expertise, as well as a ‘how to’ resource for children, assisting them in developing their artistic skills in various areas.

To date the Foundation has brought artistic, cultural and theatrical awareness to 3,000 children, parents and teachers.  It is seeking Government support and private sponsorship to ultimately target some 30,000 children.

The website provides more detail on the Foundation’s work and is kept up to date with developments and activities in the regions.  Or you can contact the Foundation on 01782 612333, email admin@sp8foundation.org.uk