ARTISTS from all walks of life are getting the chance to use their skills with Open Arts.

It is a community arts and mental health project run as one of the charities managed within the South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust .

The project offers arts courses consisting of taster sessions in visual arts, drama, film and photography, with an aim of providing relaxing, social arts groups that offer new skills and confidence for people who feel they have a mental health need.

As well as the courses, Open Arts offers accreditation, volunteer work, links to further learning, research projects, exhibitions and studio provision at Hadleigh Art House part of the Hadleigh Old Fire Station community, arts and culture facility.

Sue Richardson is a volunteer and part-time studio manager for Open Arts. She said: “I became a participant with Open Arts in 2012, following on from being given a leaflet about it at a therapy group I was attending at the time. With support from the studio managers and other volunteers, my confidence grew and I was encouraged to become an Open Arts volunteer. I had previous experience of working in a mental health setting and felt I would like to be able to give something back.

It gave me such a boost when I was accepted; I wasn’t such a useless person after all. I felt I had a purpose, small steps on my road to recovery.”