New Harris partnership promotes wellbeing
On 9 September the Harris will launch a new gallery exploring how art can improve all our wellbeing. A new partnership with Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust is also being launched on this day. This autumn and winter the NHS’s Lancashire Recovery College will be based at the Harris every Monday offering a programme of free wellbeing workshops – and everyone is invited to book.
In the new gallery visitors can take time to slow down and relax. There are a range of wellbeing activities on offer such as creative writing and mindfulness inspired by the Harris’ art collections.
The gallery was developed through visitor consultation sessions – where local people were asked what sort of activities they’d like to see and what art works they find relaxing. The results are on display and everyone will be asked for their feedback so the gallery can be further developed in the future.
Lancashire Recovery College will be based in the Harris each Monday from 9 September. They will offer two free wellbeing courses – one in the morning and one in the afternoon – which everyone is welcome to book onto. Courses include dealing with anxiety, art and chair-based exercise. Over lunchtime Recovery College staff and volunteers will be available, either in the gallery or in the Harris café, if visitors need a chat about living well or signposting to other wellbeing services in the region.
On Monday 9 September at 10.30am everyone is invited to a special launch event.
Cllr Peter Kelly, Cabinet member for culture and leisure at Preston City Council said, “This is a fantastic partnership that will see Lancashire Recovery College have a base in Preston at the Harris to promote wellbeing. In addition to their fantastic range of free courses it’s great to have the College’s staff and volunteers at the Harris one day each week to help us all talk about our wellbeing. This is a great new partnership – and we hope the Harris will become a wellbeing resource for people in Preston.
“Everyone is welcome to the launch event and of course to come and explore the new gallery.”
Caroline Donovan, Chief Executive at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, added, “We are delighted to add the new Harris Gallery to our Recovery College outlets.
“Health and Wellbeing is so important and is influenced by many factors. The Recovery College’s free courses are accessible to everyone and provide an opportunity for people to explore many different activities and courses that could have a real benefit to their everyday lives. We are grateful to Preston City Council for making this space available to us.”
The first wellbeing workshop will begin at 1.30pm and is called the ‘Tree of Life’. This is a creative course that allows you to look at your life experiences, things that are important to you, and how you look after yourself.
Refreshments will be served between 10.30 and 11.30am on the Harris’s 2nd floor balcony. Visitors can find out more and book their place on one of the free wellbeing workshops. Harris curators will also be available to talk about the art works on display and how the space was developed.
To book a place on any of the FREE courses visit : Lancashire Recovery College’s Eventbrite page:
For more information on The Harris