converge: education for recovery · converge is your chance to learn and explore new ideas for...

CONVERGE: EDUCATION FOR RECOVERYwww.yorksj.ac.uk/converge

Prospectus: Autumn Term 2019 & Spring Term 2020

INNOVATIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH

For further information - T: 01904 876902 or E: [email protected]

Contents

Welcome to Converge 3

The Principles of Converge 3

Applying for courses 4

Getting the most out of your time with Converge 5

Converge Mentors 6

Volunteering Opportunities – York St John University Students 7

Course information

• Theatre and Performance Courses 8

• Film and Media Production Courses 10

• Music Courses 10

• Creative Writing Courses 12

• Visual Arts Courses 14

• Discover Courses 16

• CERT: Converge Evaluation and Research Team 17

• Coaching Courses 17

• Supported Volunteering in Horticulture 18

Wider partnerships

• Out of Character Theatre Company 19

• Out of Character: In the Moment 20

• Converge Partnership with Peppermill Court Mental Health Hospital 21

• Emerging Voices Music Charity 21

• Converge Northumbria 22

• Converge Oregon 22

New Applicant Information and Support 23

Contact Details 24

“Develop a passion for living through a love of learning” Laurie Farnell

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Course details - www.yorksj.ac.uk/converge

We offer courses that give you the freedom to create, challenge and inspire yourself and others, to discover new abilities, share and develop confidence on common ground.The vast majority, but not all of the courses, take place at York St John University on Lord Mayor’s Walk and are taught by staff, students and people with particular expertise, who themselves have experience of mental ill health.

Converge is your chance to learn and explore new ideas for self-expression and communication, aid recovery and work towards achieving your goals. We offer rich and rewarding courses that will help you develop skills in a supportive and exciting educational environment.

Courses are provided free of charge and are open to adults (18 years of age and older) currently receiving support for their mental health or who have experienced mental health issues.

Please browse this brochure for information about who we are and what we can offer you.

Most courses will run in both Autumn 2019 and in Spring 2020; some will be run as new courses each term and some in the second term require that students have already completed the first term, or have some relevant experience.

For more information about Converge, please visit the website www.yorksj.ac.uk/converge.

The principles of converge

WELCOME TO CONVERGE

THE PRINCIPLES OF CONVERGE

• To work together as artists and students.

• To build a community where we learn from each other.

• To engage and enhance the university and wider community.

• To provide a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Respect others, value yourself.

And above all ‘… be ordinary, be extraordinary, be yourself.’

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Procedure

• Please look through this brochure for information on our courses and decide which you might be interested in attending

• Complete our application form listing the courses (in order of preference) that you are interested in. The form should be in the back of the brochure, if it has been removed please contact the Converge office who will send you a new form and updated course information.

• Return form to Converge either by post, email or by bringing with you to one of our Open Days. See below for timings/location.

• You can also download the form from our website and email or post back to us

• At the Open Days, staff will be available to help you with the paperwork and answer any questions you may have. You will also get a chance to meet some of the tutors and students.

APPLYING FOR OUR COURSES

Open days

Open days to enrol on courses are held twice a year. All enrolments go through an application process which can be completed at the open day. Please visit the Converge website or contact the Converge office to find out about the next available open day.

What happens once I have completed an application?

We will look at all returned forms and count how many people want to do each course.

We will confirm to you whether or not you have been allocated a place on courses either via text, email or post.

Please note that, due to limited places, you may not get on your first choice of course but we will do our best to make sure you get a place on one of your first two choices.

As numbers on courses are limited, if a place is allocated you should make a real commitment to attend as many sessions as possible and keep us informed if you aren’t able to attend any session.

Where students join after the start of the course, one-to-one enrolment appointments can be arranged by contacting us.

We also reserve the right to conduct individual interviews with students. Please ensure that you bring all the correct information with you to fill out your enrolment forms.

Joining our courses is easy and made as stress-free as possible with the support of our team.

As with any course of study, it is essential that we have students’ details prior to the start of the relevant course.

‘Attending a Converge Course has made a massive positive difference in my life.’

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Support in Class

We understand that it can be stressful to join a new course and meet new people. We can offer you in-class support from our dedicated team of Converge Mentors and York St John Student Volunteers.

We are happy for students to attend courses with their mental health support, though please note that any such support must be willing to be actively engaged with the sessions.

Support to Progress

Do you have any plans or aspirations to do more with your talents? We know that having the right support is vital in order for you to take your next step. Since 2008 we have helped our students to get into further/higher education, find employment and become performers and artists. Please contact us to discuss this further.

Connecting to the Community: The Discovery Hub

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust have partnered with Converge to offer The Discovery Hub. The Discovery Hub is a small team of Learning Access Workers who work individually to provide specialist support to individuals at the beginning of a recovery journey who are looking to join Converge as a new student. The Discovery Hub team will help to mentor you through taking those first steps on to courses as well as exploring a longer term journey of recovery via accessing learning and educational opportunities in the wider community. If you feel you would benefit from the support of the Discovery Hub team, call us on 01904 876070 or email [email protected]. Students may also be referred to the Discovery Hub by a health worker.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TIME AT CONVERGE: STUDENT SUPPORT

Library Membership

Once enrolled onto a Converge course, students are classed as associate students of York St John University and may choose to have borrowing rights to the university library. If you are interested in this, please contact us. Should you already have a university library card from previous terms, you can ask the office to extend the expiry date of this.

TOTUM Cards

As a Converge student you can buy a TOTUM card which offers you the opportunity to access a wide range of discounts. You can purchase your TOTUM card online via the website ww.totum.com or visit the York St John Student Union reception desk to ask for further information. A full list of discounts can be found online.

WIFI Access

Converge students can access the eduroam service, a secure, world-wide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community. Wherever you see ‘eduroam’ appear in your list of Wi-Fi networks on your mobile device, you can get online.

For more information on how to connect, please visit www.eduroam.org or speak to the Information Learning Services desk in Fountains building for help.

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Have you considered being a Converge Mentor? Joining the Converge Mentors Scheme is available to anyone who has completed at least two terms with Converge. As a mentor you will have the opportunity to support others, represent Converge, contribute ideas to how Converge can benefit its students and receive training such as Mental Health First Aid.

For more information please contact Lucy Coleman, Converge Student Engagement Coordinator

Tel: 07415 709035

Email: [email protected]

CONVERGE MENTORS

‘Converge is an incredible place where tutors have a genuine interest and enthusiasm for their subjects.’

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A York St John student volunteering in Converge can have a number of roles:Student participant:

Modelling ideal student behaviour by taking part in the workshop alongside Converge Students as a community of learners. This includes fully participating in all of the activities, being attentive, supporting Converge Students to engage fully in the session, supporting the tutor where needed, and being a friendly

and approachable person. This role may also involve providing individual support.

Shared leadership role:

Under the guidance of the tutor, student volunteers are empowered to run and lead parts of the session. This is an important role because not only does it give the participants a varied experience of leadership, it gives the student volunteer valuable experience in workshop leading and helps them to decide if they wish to take the step into facilitating in their own right.

Workshop facilitator:

This role is to take charge of running and planning one or more sessions.

Students who have previously volunteered with Converge have benefitted in the following ways:

• Gained valuable work experience which can be included in a professional reference.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YORK ST JOHN STUDENTS: STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

• Personal development

• Career opportunities

• Access to training

• Increased awareness of mental health

• Opportunity to connect to a professional network

Case study:

Hannah McEvoy, BA (Hons) Fine Art. I chose to volunteer with Converge because I love to help people. I was volunteering in the Drawing/Art class and as a Fine Art student, I found that mixing my two biggest passions; helping others and art, really made doing work placements exciting for me.

Volunteering with Converge has influenced my experience as a student because not only am I walking away with work based learning experience, but I learned new things along the way as well, as helping the leaders of the groups meant getting involved in the activities too, which may help me further on when writing my dissertation.

I strongly recommend Converge to anyone wanting to do some volunteering experience!

Aaron Soon, BA (Hons) Music. It’s lovely to realise how community music can be so inclusive and empowering. Converge has provided me lots of hands-on experience and I gained a lot of satisfaction from it. I am very proud to be a part of the team!If you would like to know more about becoming a student volunteer, please contact : Holly Sloan E: [email protected] or M: 07764337116

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All courses, dates and times will be confirmed to students once a place has been confirmed. Please note that course content may vary to meet the needs of the students. For most courses, opportunities to perform/exhibit will be available to those who wish to do so at the end of each term. Students may also have the chance to be involved in an alternative way where performing is not something you wish to be involved in. The courses are held at York St John University, Lord Mayors Walk campus, unless stated otherwise.

Try it! Theatre

Try It! Theatre is theatre taster workshops for people who are at the beginning of exploring new interests and want to have a go before progressing to Converge Introduction to Theatre. This is an opportunity to develop your skills and interests in theatre, or if you’ve never done it before, to give it a go!

Introduction to Theatre

This course provides an introduction to staging, lighting, character, devising, script and performing to an audience. The course is largely practical in nature

COURSE INFORMATION

THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE COURSES

The following pages showcase our most recent courses. For a full list of current courses please refer to the separate pull out sheet at the back of this prospectus. If there is not a separate pull out sheet, please email [email protected] or call 07764337116 for the latest course availability and information.

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and is held in a drama space at York St John University. No previous experience of theatre is necessary.

This course leads on to the Working Towards Performance course where students can develop their skills and technique.

Working Towards Performance

Working Towards Performance takes all the skills learned and developed in the Introduction course and utilises them to make an original piece of theatre. Starting with just an idea, we will work week-on-week to create characters, devise a script and ultimately stage our very own production at the end of term performance as part of York St John University’s Arts Festival in May 2020

Playback Theatre

If you are a theatre-maker, improviser or storyteller or just want to find out more, come and learn the basics of performing and conducting this exciting improvisational theatre form. Playback focuses on creating a unique experience between performers and audience to collaborate on telling a shared story.

Creative Movement

Creative expression through movement is for all abilities and levels. With a focus on increasing body confidence and self-esteem by expressing yourself through non-verbal communication this is a fun and interactive course where different styles of movement and dance take place. Exercises work on improving posture and stability, exploring Contemporary Dance Technique and collaborating with new people in a friendly environment. The course is supported by York St John dance students.

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Film

Converge film courses are structured in two phases. The first part of the course is dedicated to exploring the basics of filmmaking techniques and styles (camera work, editing, scripting for documentary, fiction, and experimental films), watching examples, and testing some of these techniques through creative exercises. During the second part of the course, students have the chance to put in practice the techniques learnt by writing, planning, and shooting their own short film.

Films produced by the Converge film course students have been previously used for promotional work within Converge and shared at conferences and events as part of our ongoing development and celebrations. We are proud to produce films in a creative and innovative way that support involvement from all levels of interest.

Journalism

This eight-week course enables students to produce a multimedia journalism piece on a story of their choice.

You will develop a range of core skills including writing, mobile shoot and edit, audio and photography, enabling you to produce a piece of legally sound, ethically informed, critical journalism suitable for a wide range of digital audiences.

Communitas Choir

Everyone can sing. Communitas is a community choir, which will allow you to sing as a part of a group in a welcoming and supportive environment. The songs will be taught orally so there is no requirement to read music, just a willingness to sing with others. There are opportunities available for choir members to progress and develop their singing skills beyond the choir’s standard work:

• Song leading: an opportunity to train with the choir director as a song leader, learning how to lead warm ups and simple songs.

• Soloing: for those who wish, we provide an opportunity to be supported in learning and singing solos with the choir.

The choir meets on Tuesdays between 5.45pm and 7.15pm and runs throughout term time.

Gamelan

This course offers a rare opportunity to play genuine Indonesian gamelan instruments (a set of beautiful iron gongs and metallophones from the island of Java).

During the course you will meet traditional Javanese music and find out about the surrounding culture.

You will also have the chance to explore the gamelan’s relaxing sound-world and to exercise your own creative ideas through improvisation and composition.

Playing the Gamelan traditionally involves removing your footwear and sitting on the floor (you may want to bring your own cushion). No prior experience is necessary, just a willingness to try something new.

FILM AND MEDIA PRODUCTION COURSES

MUSIC COURSES

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Music Ensemble

This course will introduce those students who have worked through the previous music sessions in ‘Discovering Music’ throughout the year to creating and performing music in an ensemble.

The music activities taught on this course will help to develop your listening skills, technical music skills, composition skills and creativity. It will also take you through processes that will allow you to create beautiful and spontaneous new pieces of music and provide you with the tools to help unlock your creative musical potential.

The sessions work towards composing an original piece of music and the methods and ideas used to construct a piece from start to finish including chord structures; melodies; lyric writing; composition; performance and working together as a group.

Music Improvisation

This course aims to teach you how to use your musical skills to spontaneously create new and exciting pieces of music.

The music activities taught on this course will help to develop your listening skills, technical music skills,

composition skills and creativity, this course will take you through processes that will allow you to create beautiful and spontaneous new pieces of music together and provide you with the tools to help unlock your creative musical potential.

Instrumental Tuition

Converge offers instrumental tuition on campus for a range of instruments including guitar, piano, vocals and percussion. Tutors are Converge staff and university music students. For more information please contact us for details.

Song Writing

This course aims to inspire you to write your own songs, building confidence through weekly song writing challenges. The course focuses on finding sources of inspiration and looking closely at song writing techniques.

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Creative Writing: Inspirations

This two-term course will introduce you to a range of creative writing techniques, including character, plot, dialogue and description. In each class you will be encouraged to explore and practise different creative writing techniques, forms and styles.

Our tutors will help you to overcome some of the

CREATIVE WRITING COURSES

Whether you’re an experienced writer or a complete novice, Converge will help you develop new skills and explore different ideas and techniques about writing.

We don’t: force you to share if you don’t want to; worry about spelling; expect you to write a certain thing in a certain way.

We do: encourage you to try new things; show you how to get ideas and develop them into a full piece of work; enjoy your writing and grow your confidence as the writer you want to be.

At the centre of Converge Creative Writing is our ‘Creative Writing: Inspiration’ course. This is the foundation for all the other writing courses we offer, so we ask that everyone starts here, whatever their previous experience.

All Converge creative writers are welcome to submit a piece for ‘Creative Writing Heals’, a collection of writing we publish every summer.

challenges many writers face, including the dreaded ‘writers’ block’ and fitting writing into a busy life.

The course is suitable for anyone, from complete beginners to more experienced writers, whatever you would like to write. It will give you a great foundation from which to move on to other Converge Creative Writing courses.

Creative Writing: Improving Through Literature

This two-term course uses current works of fiction to help develop their creative writing skills.

Different samples of published writing are explored each week to give the opportunity to investigate writers’ techniques, and then practise those techniques in your own work. This course is designed for people who have some experience of creative writing and who have already taken ‘Creative Writing: Inspirations’. Classes involve group and whole class discussions, as well as writing exercises.

Students will be asked to prepare for sessions in advance by reading the piece of literature to be

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discussed. Pieces will be no more than 10 pages (an extract from a novel, a short story or a poem or two) and will be provided.

Memoir and Autobiographical Writing

Everybody has a story to tell. This course is suitable for people who have already completed

‘Introduction and Inspiration’ and ‘Improving Through Literature’ with Converge, or who have some experience of writing and are interested in exploring the craft of memoir and autobiography. The course provides an opportunity to consider the different types of memoir and autobiographical styles and explores how to begin telling your own story.

Split into two parts the first five weeks explore an introduction to the theory of memoir and autobiographical writing as well as practical tasks designed to help you develop your own skill and style.

Participants are then invited to a further five weeks to delve deeper into personal memories and to identify key moments and themes in their stories. Students attending the full course are invited to share a sample of their work with Converge as part of the learning experience.

‘The courses are interesting, I have become a better person and something of a poet!’

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VISUAL ARTS COURSES

Art: Drawing on Life

Converge Drawing on Life aims to teach drawing as a way of exploring the world; gaining knowledge through intelligent observation, it acts as an opportunity to savour and appreciate the incredible beauty that is all around us, the subtle and ever changing quality of light, the delight of form and symmetry and also to grapple with perspective, composition and colour.

In ‘Drawing on Life’ we develop our own mindfulness, find inspiration, purpose and pleasure on our individual journeys of healing and recovery.


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This course is open to new students who have not attended a Drawing on Life course before.

Art, Mixed Media

Art: Mixed Media provides an exciting opportunity to explore different art materials and styles. The course provides a set of practical sessions using a variety of methods, enabling students to tap into their creativity. Students’ work may be selected for exhibition at the end of the term.

Leaded Glass

A completely unique course that offers students the opportunity to learn how to create a piece of leaded glass work. Working together with the tutor, you will learn practical skills in this ancient craft, including creating a pattern, choosing your colours, glass cutting, copper foiling, using flux and solder, finishing off, patina and polishing. This course can only take up to six students due to the nature of the craft involved, students will need to make a commitment to attend the full programme as each class is essential to the overall progress.

Wet Felting

An introduction to the ancient craft of felt making.

From learning the basics and other techniques the course progresses through different projects where students can experiment with colour and wool fibres to create beautiful and original designs.

‘Felting is very therapeutic, calming and beneficial to me.’

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Discover Art and Drawing

Find out about art and make art in the welcoming environment of York Art Gallery. Sessions are led by the interests of the group, inspired by the exhibitions in the gallery. They are likely to include: drawing; painting; creative writing and working with clay. With guidance from the gallery’s curators and local artists. There are also bite size sessions of Discover Art and Drawing running between the main courses.

Discover Cinema

Discover Cinema will include discussions about film exploring ideas in film and how films are made and include matinee cinema trips. Taking place in cinemas in York and at York St John University, this course offers an introduction to cinema around the city.

This course is funded and administrated through York Mind. You can contact York Mind directly to book on: [email protected] or Tel: 01904 643364.

Discover Theatre

Starting with a ‘Meet & Greet’ session at York St John University, with the second session giving students the opportunity to take a tour of York Theatre Royal, students will be given the true ‘backstage experience’ of how theatre is created, including rehearsals, text study, review writing and attending performances.

This course is funded and administrated through York Mind. You can contact York Mind directly to book on: [email protected] or Tel: 01904 643364.

DISCOVER COURSES

Our Discover courses take place across the city of York, offering behind-the scenes experiences of York’s theatres, cinemas, art gallery, museums and libraries. Led by experienced tutors and supported by the Converge team, they offer a different, off campus, experience to our other Converge courses.

Discover Books and Writing

Where better to get to grips with literature than in the city’s central hub of York Explore? Using the books and archives within the building, students go on a journey of creatively interpreting and responding to the wealth of literature that is held there.

Discover Museums

An opportunity to explore different museums and heritage sites in York, talking with curators and getting a behind-the scenes, hands-on experience of exhibition artefacts. Students will respond to artefacts and create guides to the museums within the city whilst gaining unique insights into York’s history.

If you’d like more information about the Discover courses before enrolling contact El Stannage, Discover York Coordinator at [email protected]


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The Converge Evaluation and Research Team is a group of people with lived experience of mental health difficulties who have received training in research methods at York St John University.

Supported by University academics we are able to offer bespoke evaluation of your mental health service or community project, using research techniques including interviews, questionnaires and focus groups to answer your questions. Using inventive approaches,

we specialise in finding ways to support people who find it hard to express themselves to take part in evaluations.

In addition to providing a professional evaluation report focused on the outcomes most important to you, we are also able to use creative methods such as theatre and art to disseminate our findings at conferences and events.

CONVERGE EVALUATION AND RESEARCH TEAM (CERT)

COACHING WORKSHOPS

Converge hosts a series of half day group workshops throughout each year aimed at assisting people in exploring future options and ideas. The workshops are suitable for people who are new to Converge and are wondering what to do next, and also those who have completed Converge courses and are considering their next steps. Courses are fun and interactive and draw on shared problem solving and ideas to come up with creative goals.

‘Converge courses get me out of the door, help me to interact with unique and incredible

people and expand my horizons.’


O U T O F C H A R A C T E R THEATRE COMPANY

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These sessions support the benefits of green spaces for mental health and wellbeing, and offer a varied and ongoing programme of relaxed and interesting gardening skills.

No previous experience of horticulture is required to join these programmes, just enthusiasm to get involved.

Poppleton Railway Nursery is Britain’s last surviving railway nursery. It is operated as a charitable group as a non-profit organisation. Supported sessions at Poppleton Railway Nursery operate on a Monday all day, Tuesday afternoons (craft session) and Thursday mornings.

Please email the Paul Botting [email protected] for more information.

SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERING IN HORTICULTURE

Converge are proud to work in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust to offer supported horticultural volunteering opportunities at St Nicks (www.stnicks.org.uk) and Poppleton Community Railway Nursery (www.poppletonrailwaynursery.co.uk)

“Poppleton is a haven. It’s so safe and comfortable there. When I get home I feel like I’ve done something good, achieved something, and had social contact with other people”.

St Nicks centre for nature and green living is the green heart of York. The charity started as ‘Friends of St Nicks’ in the 1990’s by transforming a former landfill site into a thriving local nature reserve. Today St Nick’s centre is home to a thriving ecotherapy project where we run supported volunteer gardening sessions and Connect to Nature Creative Writing.

For more information about our partnership with St Nicks please contact [email protected]


We formed in 2009 as a theatre company of artists and performers comprising of people who use, or have used, mental health services, and include students and volunteers.

We have devised, written, performed and collaborated on many projects both in York and nationally. Some of our work is about mental health, but not everything. We’ve created very personal pieces specifically for audiences interested in mental illness; we’ve devised site-specific durational performances, performed scripted works and we’ve collaborated with York Theatre Royal, Love Arts, Arts & Minds, the Wy-Fi project, the NHS and many medical schools.

Registered Charity Number 1161399

O U T O F C H A R A C T E R THEATRE COMPANY

Review of Out of Character’s performance of ‘Objects of Terror’

“Objects of Terror is an excellent production. As a piece of new writing it is outstanding, tackling issues of mental health that are complex and often contentious the play asks us to reconsider our perspective on who is and what is “madness”. Our need to label and define people who are different from perceived norms debilitates all of us. We miss the potential that exists in all people and in so doing commit some to a life that is painful and traumatic. The company are strong with some excellent performances that are highly nuanced. The characters are well drawn with depth and the depiction of “madness” is never mawkish or simple. The production values are high, it is well lit and exceptionally well directed and staged.”

Damian Cruden, Artistic Director, York Theatre Royal

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In The Moment is an all-inclusive theatre company producing wide and varied work, born from spontaneity and improvisation. As a company we draw inspiration from members’ individual artistic exploits, and explore them communally and theatrically. This theatre group, a partner to Out of Character Theatre Company, offers opportunities for adults with lived experience of mental health conditions to make theatre.

Members will generally have completed Converge’s theatre courses (Introduction to Theatre and Theatre, Working Towards Performance) or have previous experience of a theatrical environment. Opportunities may exist, for those interested, to work with Out of Character Theatre Company as and when places become available.

Out of Character; In the Moment is an ideal group for those who wish to expand their theatrical experience but are unable to commit to the rehearsal/performance requirements of Out of Character or as a way back into theatre-related activities following a break from such activity.

The group is run by Jane Allanach, who has worked closely with Out of Character for the past several years and who also performs community theatre in Leeds and York. Members from Out of Character also attend some sessions to exchange ideas and practice.

OUT OF CHARACTER: IN THE MOMENT

‘This group is great fun. Trust has really been built up and it is a very safe space to experiment. My confidence has really grown, and the group is close-knit and welcoming’ Anne Marie

‘Ever changing. Exploring our own work in the group. Developing our creativity together. No pressure. Each session different. Fun Playing’ Group member

‘In the Moment is a fantastic blend of talented, like-minded, great people, who are dedicated to produce a piece of work out of playing and devising’ Group member

Please visit Out of Character’s website at www.outofcharactertheatre.squarespace.com if you are interested in finding out more about either company.


Emerging Voices provides quality music making opportunities for adults who experience mental ill health. Through such musical participation, individuals will improve their general wellbeing and realise their aspirations.

The charity was established in response to a growing need to provide music opportunities beyond the remit or capacity of Converge.

Emerging Voices can be a first step into exploring

CONVERGE PARTNERSHIP WITH PEPPERMILL COURT MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL

EMERGING VOICES MUSIC CHARITY

In addition to workshops, members of Communitas choir have led weekly ‘open rehearsals’ on wards for patients and staff to join in with or listen to. Comments from patients have included ‘livens up the place’, ‘exhilarating’ and ‘joyful’.

Undergraduate music students have organised and performed in three concerts for staff and patients.

If you would like to volunteer or wish to find out more, please contact Converge.

music or the next step after Converge providing one to one support, courses, performance and recording opportunities.

Its trustees are Dr Michael Bonshor, Catherine Birch, Laurie Farnell, Dr Laura Jones and Lucy Coleman.

To find out more please contact Lucy Coleman. E: [email protected] T: 07415 709035 Registered Charity Number: 1183043

‘ The African drumming sessions helped me with building my confidence.’

Over the past two years Converge tutors and volunteers have been working in partnership with occupational therapy and nursing staff at Peppermill Court Mental Health Hospital in York to design and deliver workshops in art, music, theatre and creative writing. Training sessions in percussion and creative writing for Occupational Therapy staff were also provided on request.

Since October 2018, 125 people have participated in the workshops. The workshops include:

Come and Create, exploring different art media including collage and sculpture; Felting using wet felting techniques; World Drumming focussing on creating basic drumming patterns with djembe (African drums); Creative Writing using short exercises with different themes including green spaces based on the courses at St Nicholas Fields; Music Improvisation with a range of percussion instruments; Games and Movement comprising of theatre-based accessible and fun activities working in pairs or groups.


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So far we have successfully designed and delivered two courses. ‘Introduction to Fashion’ and ‘Drama and Theatre exploration’. Feedback has included:

“ Been able to let off steam and step out of the shadows”

“ The course has been eye opening for me. Converge solidifies how important the arts are”

“ A real insight into the creative process of the fashion world”

We have enrolled 15 converge students in total and have already worked with 19 University students.

We are busy exploring new courses for the next academic year and are busy building links with local arts organisations offering theatre tours and workshops with theatre companies from the region.

Time has also been spent ensuring building and strengthening links with regional mental health organisations to enable the converge offer to be accessible to a wider audience

All in all, a great start to this new project. Watch this space!

CONVERGE AT NORTHUMBRIA

Converge Oregon will be providing our first full pilot course July 2019 through an introductory theatre course titled Theatre in Social Context that is a partnership between Pacific University and Portland Community College (PCC). The course will be co-taught by a theatre tutor from PCC and an occupational therapy tutor from Pacific University.

Two occupational therapy interns and two undergraduate theatre interns, all from Pacific University, will be supporting the course and acting as teaching assistants. We’ll be recruiting 8 mental health service users from the local area and will also include 8 “traditional” PCC students in the class for a total of 16 students working together to learn theatre and produce a short piece of work.

The first three weeks of the class will be help in the theatre space at PCC while the final week will occur in the Tom Miles Theatre on the Pacific University campus and will culminate in a public performance. Our goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of the Converge principles and approach in the US educational system in order to seek funding for a larger multi-year demonstration project in the future.

CONVERGE OREGON

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Please be courteous and respectful to other students you are attending with; everyone may have their own issues. Obviously, where another student’s conduct causes alarm/concern or is otherwise inappropriate, please report this to the course tutor.

If you have a prior appointment or arrangement (for example a hospital appointment or holiday) and know you won’t be able to attend the class the following week, please either inform your course tutor or contact the Converge Office directly who will record this information.

If you are feeling unwell, please contact the Converge Office, who will let the tutor know that you won’t be able to attend the session.

If you feel overwhelmed or are finding it difficult to attend, please contact us so that we know that you are okay. We are aware that, sometimes, other things in life can affect how you feel and that this can make it hard for you to motivate yourself to attend the course. We do understand and are always happy to speak with you to see if we can help.

If you find you are attending a course but are not enjoying it, please let us know that you don’t want to continue so that we can offer your place to another student; we do recommend, however, that you attend for more than one session before you decide.

You might want to consider a change to another course which you might enjoy more. This is usually possible for most Converge courses but we do need to know as some courses have a limit on how many students they can take.

Please don’t forget to keep us up to date if any of your contact or support details change so we can make sure information goes to the right place.

It’s also a good idea to add the Converge mobile number to your ‘Contacts’ so that you know it’s us contacting you.

We hope you enjoy your time with Converge.

NEW APPLICANT INFORMATION AND SUPPORT


We ask you to commit to any course you do. We need you to come along to every class you can and if you have a reason you can’t attend a session please make sure you let us know. This way you and the other learners will get the most from the course.

‘ We are aware that, sometimes, other things in life can affect how you feel and that this can make it hard for you to motivate yourself to attend the course.’

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T: 01904 876902 (please leave a voicemail message) M: 07764 337116 E: [email protected]

If you would like to send anything by post, please send to: Converge Office, HG 212 York St John University Lord Mayor’s Walk York YO31 7EX www.yorksj.ac.uk/converge

facebook.com/converge.york

@ConvergeYork

@convergeyork

CONVERGE OFFICE

With thanks to Gowland Photography, Nick Small Photography, Sam Taylor Photography, and Michael Waterfall, HBA Graphic Design.

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