Showcase celebrating university and mental health service provider’s convergence of interests
A pioneering project which offers high quality arts
educational opportunities for mental health service users and work
experience for university students is being celebrated in a
showcase of events at York St John University and York Theatre
Royal.
‘Converge’ is a social enterprise which works
with adults aged 18 years and over. It seeks to raise aspirations
and provide educational opportunities to people with mental health
problems on a sustained basis. Over the past fours years, working
with the local mental health service provider, Converge has offered
courses in theatre, dance, creative writing and music within the
University community.
To celebrate the success of Converge, staff
and students involved in the project hosted an evening of dance,
creating writing and music performances by Converge students on
Wednesday 9 May. Stakeholders from Leeds and York Partnership NHS
Foundation Trust joined other VIP guests to hear from course
participants and students about their experiences working with
Converge and the impact it has had on their aspirations for the
future.
The project is the brainchild of Dr Nick Rowe,
a Senior Lecturer at York St John University, and Gemma Alldred, a
former student. Nick, whose work spans arts and health, recognised
a collaboration opportunity with the UK’s longest running
psychiatric hospital, Bootham Park, which is located in the centre
of York. Seeing the potential in the project for shared learning,
the NHS funded Gemma’s post of Education Support Worker to develop
and lead Converge.
Dr Nick Rowe explained:
“Through Converge, mental health service users
are given opportunities which raise their aspirations and open
doors into education and employment; and students gain valuable
work experience in an increasingly competitive market place. Over
70 people with mental health problems completed our courses last
year alone, with 25 students working on the project.”
Following the success of the theatre course a
professional theatre company called ‘Out of Character’ has
developed, comprised of people who use mental health services.
After performing Tales from Kafka to a sell-out audience at York
Theatre Royal in 2010, they are returning there to perform
Pirandello’s Henry IV from 15 – 18 May. The play is in repertoire
with the award-winning blue/orange at York Theatre Royal, another
play specifically about mental health. For more details and to book
tickets, visit http://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/shows/henry_iv.php
Further performances by all Converge courses
will take place during York St John University’s annual graduate
arts’ showcase Create, held from 14 May – 2 June at York St John
and selected venues across York. For information about these
performances and full details of the Create programme, visit
www.yorksj.ac.uk/create
To find out more about the work of Converge,
go to www.convergeyork.co.uk or follow on Twitter @ConvergeYork
Picture shows: Out of Character theatre company
For further press information please contact Amy
Hall, PR & Communications Officer on T: 01904 876466 or
E: a.hall@yorksj.ac.uk
